TV Ratings: CMA Music Festival rocks for ABC Monday

'The Big Bang Theory' does strong 18-49 numbers for CBS

By Daniel Fienberg Tuesday, Sep 1, 2009 11:33 AM

Taylor Swift

Credit: AP

Fast National ratings for Monday, Aug. 31, 2009.

Three hours of the special "CMA Musical Festival: Country's Night to Rock" helped ABC control the ratings race for final night of August.

Among adults 18-49, ABC averaged a 2.1 rating on Monday night, nipping the 2.0 rating for CBS. NBC and FOX tied for third with a 1.4 rating in the key demographic, leaving The CW in last with a 0.5 rating.

Overall, ABC averaged an estimated 7.84 million viewers to go with a 5.0 rating/8 share. CBS was a close second with a 4.6/8, followed by NBC's 3.8/6. FOX's 2.7/4 and the 1.0/2 for The CW trailed.

ABC started the night in first with the first hour of the CMA Music Festival programming, which did a 5.0/8 in the 8 p.m. hour. NBC's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" was second with a 3.3/5, just ahead of CBS' pair of "How I Met Your Mother" repeats. FOX's "House" had a 2.8/4 for fourth, beating the 0.9/1 for The CW's "One Tree Hill."

CBS moved into first at 9 p.m. with a 5.4/8 for "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory." The latter comedy again improved on its lead-in with a 2.6 rating in the 18-49 demo, best of the night. The CMA Music Festival was second for ABC with a 5.2/8 and actually edged CBS in viewers for the hour. NBC's "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" was third with a 3.8/6, with FOX's "Lie to Me" taking fourth with a 2.5/4. The CW's "Gossip Girl" was down slightly from its lead-in.

"CSI: Miami" had a 5.1/9 to help CBS win the 10 p.m. hour. ABC's CMA Festival was a close second overall and won the hour in the 18-49 demo. NBC's "Dateline" was a close third with a 4.3/7.

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

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.