TV Ratings: CBS repeats dominate Thanksgiving Thursday

ABC's Beyonce and Paul McCartney musical specials both tank

Friday, Nov 27, 2009 7:56 PM

Daniel Fienberg

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TV Ratings: CBS repeats dominate Thanksgiving Thursday

Russell of 'Survivor: Samoa'

Credit: CBS

Fast National ratings for Thursday, November 26, 2009.

With the other networks airing an assortment of holiday programming, repeats and musical specials on Thanksgiving night, CBS' repeats were dominant in most key measures.

The night's most significant pieces of new programming, ABC's Beyonce and Paul McCartney specials, were both ratings duds.

Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 2.4 rating, topping the 2.0 rating for FOX in the key demographic. ABC's 1.6 rating was third, followed by the 1.3 rating for NBC and The CW's 0.9 rating.

Overall, CBS averaged just under an estimated 9.3 million viewers to go with a 5.4 rating/11 share. FOX was a distant second with a 3. 4/7, with ABC's 2.9/6 and the 2.6/5 for NBC following. The CW trailed with a 1.4/3.

CBS started the night in first with a 5.4/11 for a "Survivor: Samoa" clip/recap show, which also delivered the night's highest 18-49 tally with a 3.0 rating. FOX was second with the 3.3/7 for a broadcast of the feature "A Night at the Museum." ABC's Charlie Brown special was third with a 3.1/6, leaving NBC in fourth with two episodes of "The Office." The CW's repeat of "The Vampire Diaries" had a 1.5/3 and tied with NBC for fourth in the 18-49 demo.

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" won the 9 p.m. hour overall with a 5.2/10. FOX's "Night at the Museum" was second overall with a 3.6/7 and won the hour in the 18-49 demo with a 2.1 rating. An NBC news special celebrating 2009's memorable figures had a 3.1/6, edging out ABC's "Beyonce: I Am... Yours" special, which did a 3.0/6, but beat NBC in the 18-49 demo. The CW's "Supernatural" repeat had a 1.4/3.

"The Mentalist" had a 5.7/11 to win the 10 p.m. hour for CBS. NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" took second, leaving ABC in third with a 2.7/5 for "Paul McCartney: Good Evening New York City."

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