(CNS)
Posted Wednesday February 8, 2012– 12:00pm
The highly promoted premiere of the NBC musical drama
"Smash" won its time slot and drew the highest rating for any 10 p.m. drama
this season among the young adult viewers most of the major broadcast networks
target, according to live-plus same-day figures released today by The Nielsen
Co.
"Smash" averaged 11.44 million viewers, the most for any non-sports
program on NBC in the 10-11 p.m. Monday time slot during the official
television season since Nov. 3, 2008 when it aired "SNL Presidential Bash
'08."
The 3.8 rating for "Smash" among viewers ages 18-49 was the highest
for a 10 p.m. drama on ABC, CBS or NBC this season, the highest for an NBC
drama premiere since "Life" on Sept. 26, 2007 and for any NBC drama since the
April 28, 2009 episode of "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit."
NBC, ABC and Fox target viewers ages 18-49, who are also coveted by
advertisers because they watch less television and are harder to reach.
Ratings for premieres are often unrepresentative of how the series will
fare because of the heavy promotion they receive and viewers who tune in who
are interested in the concept, but do not return for future episodes.
The singing competition "The Voice" averaged 17.84 million viewers
from 8-10 p.m., the most for a regularly scheduled NBC entertainment program
during the official television season since the March 5, 2007 episode of "Deal
or No Deal" averaged 18.39 million.
NBC averaged 15.71 million viewers for its prime-time programming for
the night, its first Monday victory with regularly scheduled programming during
the official television season since Feb. 18, 2008, when it aired "Deal or No
Deal" the premiere of "My Dad is Better Than Your Dad" and "Medium."
NBC was the most-watched network for each half-hour of prime time Monday.
CBS was second each half-hour, averaging 10.9 million viewers for "How
I Met Your Mother" (9.98 million); "2 Broke Girls" (11.47 million); "Two
and a Half Men" (13 million); "Mike & Molly" (10.95 million) and "Hawaii
Five-0" (9.97 million).
ABC was third, averaging 8.46 million viewers for a two-hour episode of
"The Bachelor" (8.35 million) and "Castle" (8.7 million).
Fox was fourth, averaging 7 million viewers for "House" (7.09 million)
and "Alcatraz" (6.91 million).
ABC, CBS, and NBC all aired three hours of prime-time programming, Fox
two hours.
The 10:30 p.m. episode of the History documentary series "Pawn Stars"
was the night's most-watched cable program, averaging 5.19 million viewers.
Copyright
© 2012 City News Service
News Tip? Email dmurphy@bhcourier.com
Twitter:@bhcourier
Facebook:@bhcourier
Youtube:@beverlyhillscourier
