TV Ratings: 'Talent' rises to the top on Tuesday

Nick Cannon of 'America's Got Talent'

Credit: Trae Patton/NBC

Fast National ratings for Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.

With three hours of "America's Got Talent" (two of them new), NBC started the month of September with a solid ratings win.

Among adults 18-49, NBC averaged a 2.6 rating, nipping the 2.5 rating for FOX in the key demo. CBS was third with a 1.9 rating, followed by the 1.1 rating for ABC and the 0.5 rating for The CW.

Overall, NBC averaged an estimated 10.4 million viewers to go with a 6.4 rating/11 share. CBS was second with a 5.4/9. Coming in a distant third was FOX with a 3.4/6, still a good way ahead of ABC's 2.2/4. The CW's 0.9/1 trailed.

CBS began the night in first with a 6.3/11 for "NCIS." FOX's "Hell's Kitchen" was second with a 4.3/7 and won the hour in the 18-49 demo with a 3.2 rating. NBC's "America's Got Talent" repeat was third, doubling up the total for ABC's "Crash Course" repeat. The CW's "90210" was fifth with a 0.8/1. 

NBC moved into the lead at 9 p.m. with a 7.3/12 for "America's Got Talent." CBS' "Big Brother" was second with a 5.1/8. FOX's "More to Love" had a 2.5/4, beating "Shaq Vs," which slipped to a 2.1/3 on ABC in its third week. The CW's "90210" stayed steady.

In the 10 p.m. hour, NBC got a 7.7/13 from "America's Got Talent," which also improved to a 3.3 rating in the key demo. CBS' "NCIS" repeat was a distant second, but still more-than-doubled the 2.4/4 for ABC's "Primetime: The Outsiders" special.

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