TV Ratings: FOX's 'Dance' tops President Obama on Wednesday

Ellen DeGeneres and Mary Murphy of 'So You Think You Can Dance'

Credit: Kelsey McNeal/FOX

Fast National ratings for Wednesday, July 22, 2009.

In what is becoming a trend, FOX opted to air original programming instead of a presidential press conference covered by the other four networks and failed to pay any ratings price.

Among adults 18-49, FOX averaged a 2.8 rating, far ahead of second place ABC's 1.7 rating. NBC was a close third in the key demographic with a 1.6 rating, while CBS' 1.2 rating beat only the 0.5 rating for The CW.

Overall, though, FOX and NBC both posted a 4.6 rating/8 share, but NBC's average audience of 7.39 million viewers edged the 7.32 million averaged by FOX. CBS was third overall with a 4.1/7, leaving ABC in fourth with a 3.2/6. The CW's 0.8/1 trailed.

In the 8 p.m. hour with three of the other networks airing President Obama's press conference, FOX stuck with "So You Think You Can Dance," doing a 4.6/9, up very slightly (a couple hundred-thousand viewers) from last week. NBC's Obama coverage was tops with a 4.1/8, ABC's coverage. CBS was fourth with a 3.0/7. The CW aired "America's Next Top Model" for a 0.8/1.

NBC moved into first at 9 p.m. with the 6.6/11 for "America's Got Talent." FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance" was pushed to second with a 4.7/8, but won the hour with a 2.9 rating in the key 18-49 demo. CBS' "Criminal Minds" was third, topping the 3.5/6 for ABC's "Wipeout." The CW's "America's Next Top Model" was down slightly.

CBS took over first at 10 p.m. with a 4.9/9 for "CSI: NY." NBC's "The Philanthropist" finished second overall with a 3.1/6, but finished third in the hour among adults 18-49. ABC's "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" finished 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, particularly in the case of live events.