TV Ratings: 'America's Got Talent' premiere boosts NBC on Tuesday

NBC dominates the 18-49 demo, but CBS is still tops overall

By Daniel Fienberg Wednesday, Jun 24, 2009 11:47 AM

'America's Got Talent' host Nick Cannon

Credit: Chris Haston/NBC

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, June 23, 2009.

Viewers welcomed NBC's "America's Got Talent" back with open arms, showing a good deal less love for the premiere of ABC's "The Superstars."

Among adults 18-49, NBC won the night comfortably with a 2.6 rating, beating the 1.6 rating for CBS. ABC's 1.3 rating and the 1.2 rating for FOX followed in the key demographic. The CW's 0.5 rating trailed.

Overall, though, CBS averaged an estimated 9.06 million viewers to go with a 6.0 rating/10 share, nipping NBC's 5.5/10 and audience of 8.96 million viewers. ABC was a distant third with a 2.5/4, bettering the 2.3/4 for FOX and The CW's 0.8/1.

CBS started the night in first with a 7.0/13 for "NCIS," which also won the 8 p.m. hour in the 18-49 demographic. The first hour of ABC's "The Superstars" had a 3.0/6 for second, edging the 2.9/5 for NBC's "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!" FOX's "House" finished fourth, still well ahead of The CW's "90210."

NBC moved into the lead at 9 p.m. with a 6.2/10 for the beginning of the "America's Got Talent" premiere. CBS' "The Mentalist" was a close second. On FOX, "Mental" was third with a 2.4/4, beating ABC's tally for "The Superstars" (2.6/4) and "Better Off Ted" (1.3/2). The finale of "Hitched or Ditched" on The CW had a 0.9/2 for the hour.

At 10 p.m., "America's Got Talent" improved to a 7.3/13 for NBC. CBS' "48 Hours Mystery" was second with a 4.9/9. ABC's "Primetime" special was third.

All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.

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Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.