TV Ratings: Wednesday audiences favor 'Big Brother,' 'America's Got Talent'

CBS and NBC split the key demo, while NBC wins overall

By Daniel Fienberg Thursday, Sep 8, 2011 12:44 PM

Apparently Il Divo performed on Wednesday's "America's Got Talent"

Credit: NBC

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Fast National ratings for Wednesday, September 7, 2011.

While "America's Got Talent" was up from last Wednesday and "Big Brother" was down from last Wednesday, the bottom line remained similar with NBC and CBS battling for the night's key ratings races.

Among adults 18-49, CBS and NBC both posted a 1.9 rating, tops in the key demographic. ABC's 1.5 rating and the 1.2 rating for FOX followed, while The CW averaged a 0.5 rating.

Overall, though, NBC controlled the night with 7.9 million viewers and a 4.9 rating/8 share. CBS was second with a 4.1/7 and 6.46 million viewers. There was a big drop to ABC's 2.9/5 and 4.475 million viewers and FOX's 2.5/4 and 3.94 million. The CW averaged 1.3 million viewers and a 0.9/1 for "America's Next Top Model."

8 p.m. - CBS started primetime in first with 7.7 million viewers and a 2.8 rating among adults 18-49 for "Big Brother." NBC's "Minute To Win It" averaged 5.62 million viewers in second, topping ABC's 4.52 million for episodes of "The Middle." FOX's "Buried Treasure" was up from last week with 4.19 million viewers and a 1.3 key demo rating. The CW's "America's Next Top Model" averaged 1.34 million viewers.

9 p.m. - The night's biggest audience went to NBC's "America's Got Talent," which averaged 11.81 million viewers and a 2.8 key demo rating to win the 9 p.m. hour. CBS was second overall with 6.29 million viewers for "Criminal Minds." ABC's episodes of "Modern Family" averaged 4.66 million viewers for third overall and finished second with a 1.9 rating among adults 18-49. FOX's "Buried Treasure" encore averaged 3.67 million viewers. On The CW, "America's Next Top Model" pulled in 1.26 million.

10 p.m. - NBC won the 10 p.m. hour with 6.275 million viewers and a 1.6 rating among adults 18-49 for "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" episode averaged 5.38 million viewers, beating the 4.25 million viewers for ABC's "Primetime Nightline."

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.