Release
FINAL -- THE SEASON PREMIERE OF "THE MENTALIST" ON ITS NEW NIGHT IMPROVES LAST YEAR'S TIME PERIOD
"Survivor: Samoa" Posts Week-to-Week Increases in Adults 18-49 and
Maintains Viewer Delivery Against Tougher Competition
The Premiere of "CSI" Improves on Last Season's Finale
CBS a Solid Second on Thursday in Viewers and Key Demographics
The second season premiere of THE MENTALIST on its new night improved the 10:00-11:00 PM year ago time period premiere of "Eleventh Hour" and the second episode of SURVIVOR: SAMOA increased last week's adults 18-49 ratings and maintained viewers against stronger competition, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Thursday, Sept. 24.
SURVIVOR: SAMOA (P) was second in households (6.7/11), viewers (11.66m), adults 25-54 (4.6/12) and adults 18-49 (3.7/11). Compared to last week's broadcast, SURVIVOR: SAMOA was up +3% in adults 18-49 (from 3.6/11), even in adults 25-54 and matched last week's viewers delivery.
At 9:00 PM, CSI: (P) was second in households (9.7/15), viewers (16.01m), adults 25-54 (5.4/13) and adults 18-49 (4.1/10). Compared to last year's finale (on May 14, 2009), CSI: was up +4% in households (from 9.3/15), +15% in adults 25-54 (from 4.7/11), +17% in adults 18-49 (from 3.5/09) and added +1.17m viewers (from 14.84m, +8%).
Editors: CSI premiered three weeks into the season last year with a major cliffhanger (Warrick's death) on a less competitive night.
At 10:00 PM, THE MENTALIST (P) was second in households (9.5/16), viewers (15.07m), adults 25-54 (4.8/12) and adults 18-49 (3.6/10). Compared to the time period premiere last year ("Eleventh Hour" on October 9, 2008), THE MENTALIST was up +32% in households (from 7.2/12), +17% in adults 25-54 (from 4.1/10), +13% in adults 18-49 (from 3.2/09) and added +3.67m viewers (from 11.40m, +32%).
For the night, CBS was second in households (8.7/14), viewers (14.25m), adults 25-54 (4.9/12) and adults 18-49 (3.8/10).
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Press Contacts: Ed Harrison 818/655-1584 ed.harrison@cbs.com
Kabi Jorgensen 212/975-4305 kabi.jorgensen@cbs.com