A rising “Voice” and big debut for “The Blacklist” helped NBC win the first night of the new TV season, while CBS’s “Hostages” and “Mom” debuted to so-so numbers.
NBC was first in ratings with a 4.6 rating/12 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and first in total viewers with an average of 14 million, according to preliminary numbers.
“The Voice” premiere at 8 p.m. earned a 4.9/13 and 14.7 million viewers, making it the highest-rated and most-watched show of the evening. The singing competition was up 17 percent from last year. The debut of “Blacklist” at 10 received a 3.8/10 and 12.6 million viewers. It was the best debut for any new broadcast show since NBC’s “Revolution” last fall. (“Revolution” went on to be the top-rated new show of last season.)
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CBS was second in ratings with a 2.7/7 and third in total viewers with 8.3 million. The premiere of “How I Met Your Mother” at 8 earned a 3.6/10 and 9.2 million viewers. At 9, the premiere of “2 Broke Girls” received a 2.8/7 — down 24 percent from last year’s — and 8.8 million viewers. The series debut of “Mom” at 9:30 earned a 2.5/6 and 7.9 million viewers. At 10, the series debut of “Hostages” got a 1.8/5 and 7.5 million viewers.
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Fox was third in ratings with a 2.5/7 and fourth in total viewers with 7.6 million viewers. At 8, “Bones” earned a 1.9/5 and 6.7 million viewers. “Sleepy Hollow” at 9 earned a strong second week, with 3.1/8 and 8.6 million viewers.
ABC was in fourth in ratings with a 2.3/6 but second in total viewers with 12.7 million. “Dancing With the Stars” at 8 earned a 2.3/6 and 13.4 million viewers. At 10, the season premiere of “Castle” received a 2.2/6 and 11.5 million viewers.
Univision was in fifth in ratings with a 1.3/3 and in viewers with 3.4 million.
Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.4/1 and total viewers with 1 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in total viewers with 726,000. It aired entirely repeats.