A cable/satellite network (ESPN) scored a rare top 10 program ranking (football, of course) in the key 18-49 demo for the first week of the new 2008-2009 television season. Broadcast networks still had 91 of the top 100 shows.
Here’s the first week number crunch of Nielsen data for both broadcast and cable/satellite from the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB).
Top 100 Programs on Broadcast and Subscription TV
Based on Primetime Adult 18-49 Ratings
Week ending September 28th, 2008
Week 1 of the 2008-2009 Broadcast Season
| RANK | PROGRAMS | NETWORK | (START) DATE |
# TLCST |
P18-49 Live+SD US AA% |
| 1 | GREY’S ANATOMY-THU 9PM | ABC | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 7.4 |
| 2 | DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES | ABC | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 7.1 |
| 3 | NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | NBC | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 6.9 |
| 4 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 5.3 |
| 5 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 5.3 |
| 6 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 5.2 |
| 7 | HOUSE | FOX | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 5.1 |
| 8 | HEROES | NBC | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 5.0 |
| 9 | NFL REGULAR SEASON L | ESPN | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 5.0 |
| 10 | OT, THE | FOX | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 4.9 |
| 11 | OFFICE | NBC | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 4.9 |
| 12 | DANCING W/STARS SP-9/23(S)-09/23/2008 | ABC | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 4.7 |
| 13 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 4.7 |
| 14 | BROTHERS & SISTERS | ABC | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 4.6 |
| 15 | SIMPSONS | FOX | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 4.5 |
| 16 | SURVIVOR: GABON | CBS | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 4.5 |
| 17 | FAMILY GUY | FOX | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 4.5 |
| 18 | FRINGE | FOX | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 4.1 |
| 19 | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | CBS | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 4.0 |
| 20 | CSI: NY | CBS | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 4.0 |
| 21 | LAW AND ORDER:SVU | NBC | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 3.8 |
| 22 | WORST WEEK | CBS | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 3.8 |
| 23 | EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-8P | ABC | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 3.7 |
| 24 | DANCING W/STARS RESULT SP(S)-09/24/2008 | ABC | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 3.6 |
| 25 | NCIS | CBS | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 3.6 |
| 26 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 3.6 |
| 27 | MENTALIST, THE | CBS | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 3.5 |
| 28 | KING OF THE HILL | FOX | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 3.4 |
| 29 | UGLY BETTY | ABC | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 30 | E.R. | NBC | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 31 | AMERICAN DAD | FOX | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 3.2 |
| 32 | AMAZING RACE 13 | CBS | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 3.2 |
| 33 | BONES | FOX | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 3.1 |
| 34 | BIGGEST LOSER 6 | NBC | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 35 | WITHOUT A TRACE | CBS | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 2.8 |
| 36 | MY NAME IS EARL | NBC | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
| 37 | COLD CASE | CBS | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
| 38 | AMERICA’S GOT TALENT-WED | NBC | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
| 39 | HEROES COUNTDOWN TO PREMR(S)-09/22/2008 | NBC | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 2.6 |
| 40 | UNIT, THE | CBS | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 2.6 |
| 41 | D. BLAINE: DIVE OF DEATH(S)-09/24/2008 | ABC | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 2.6 |
| 42 | CSI 10PM-SPECIAL(S)-09/25/2008 | CBS | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 43 | COLL FTBALL-THUR NIGHT L | ESPN | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 44 | KNIGHT RIDER | NBC | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 45 | PRISON BREAK | FOX | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 46 | GARY UNMARRIED | CBS | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
| 46 | LIPSTICK JUNGLE | NBC | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
| 48 | SR/PRES DEBATE 1 2008(S)-09/26/2008 | CNN | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
| 49 | BOSTON LEGAL | ABC | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
| 50 | TERMINATOR: SRH CNR CHRON | FOX | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 2.3 |
| 51 | EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-7P | ABC | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 52 | 60 MINUTES | CBS | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 53 | PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE(S)-09/26/2008 | FOXNC | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 54 | OLD CHRISTINE | CBS | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
| 55 | AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-5 | CW | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
| 56 | KITCHEN NIGHTMARES | FOX | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
| 57 | SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL | ABC | 09/27/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 58 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE WED | UNI | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 59 | CRISTINA MON | UNI | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 60 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE THU | UNI | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 61 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE MON | UNI | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 62 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE TUE | UNI | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 63 | COPS 2 | FOX | 09/27/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 64 | KITCHEN NIGHTMRS-9/25 8P(S)-09/25/2008 | FOX | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 65 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | 09/22/2008 | 2 | 1.9 |
| 66 | MENTALIST, THE-FRIDAY SP(S)-09/26/2008 | CBS | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 67 | OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS | ABC | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 68 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE FRI | UNI | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 69 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL MON | UNI | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 70 | 48 HOURS MYSTERY | CBS | 09/27/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 71 | FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 | NBC | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 72 | SMALLVILLE | CW | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 73 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL TUE | UNI | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 74 | 20/20 SP EDITION-9/26(S)-09/26/2008 | ABC | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 75 | COPS | FOX | 09/27/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 76 | AMW: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK | FOX | 09/27/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 77 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL THU | UNI | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 78 | GOSSIP GIRL-MON | CW | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 79 | DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE | UNI | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 80 | ONE TREE HILL-MON | CW | 09/22/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 81 | 90210 | CW | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 82 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL WED | UNI | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 83 | SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER | FOX | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 84 | ROSA DE GUADALUPE THU | UNI | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 85 | FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN | CW | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 86 | TIL DEATH | FOX | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 87 | DO NOT DISTURB | FOX | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 88 | AQUI Y AHORA TUE | UNI | 09/23/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 89 | ROSA DE GUADALUPE FRI | UNI | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 90 | SUPERNATURAL | CW | 09/25/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 91 | CUIDADO CON EL ANGEL FRI | UNI | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 92 | LAW & ORDER:SVU-SAT | NBC | 09/27/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 93 | CRIMETIME SATURDAY | CBS | 09/27/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 94 | SPORTSCENTER LATE L | ESPN | 09/27/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 95 | AMERICA’S TOUGHEST JOBS | NBC | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 96 | 90210-ENC | CW | 09/24/2008 | 1 | 1.1 |
| 97 | SHOW SUENOS SANGRE MI SUN | UNI | 09/28/2008 | 1 | 1.1 |
| 98 | HOUSE | USA | 09/22/2008 | 13 | 1.1 |
| 99 | OFFICE, THE | TBSC | 09/23/2008 | 2 | 1.0 |
| 100 | DEBATE | MSNBC | 09/26/2008 | 1 | 1.0 |
| Source: 9/22 – 9/28/08 Nielsen Galaxy Explorer estimates. Ranked by average audience % (ratings); in the event of a tie, impressions (000’s) are used as a tiebreaker. Ad-Supported Subscription television only. Programming under 25 minutes excluded. |
|||||
