Final Broadcast Ratings: September 22, 2014

CBS and NBC battled it out for the top spot, for the official first day of the 2014-15 TV season. CBS was the most watched network, drawing 13.2 million viewers, with NBC just a half million viewers behind. NBC edged CBS in the A18-49 ratings, by two tenths of a ratings point. But, when the Live+7 ratings are figured in, CBS should sweep the night.

THE BIG BANG THEORY was the most watched program of the night and drew the best A18-49 ratings, easily beating the premiere of THE VOICE. However, BIG BANG is down from the 2013 double episode premiere by an average of 1.5 million viewers and four tenths of a ratings point in the demo. But, Monday nights are a tougher night than the Thursday night slot, from last year.

SCORPION was very well sampled, getting over 13.8 million viewers and  3.2 rating in A18-49 numbers. That is down from what THE CRAZY ONES grabbed after TBBT's season premiere, in 2013, but given its a crime drama, it is pretty good. It should project out to the 3rd best A18-49 ratings on the night, after seven days DVR viewings.

THE VOICE performed well enough to help push NBC to the top of the L+SD demo ratings, but the competition series off by two million viewers and 24% in the demo ratings, from last year's season premiere. With six more weeks of BIG BANG going head-to-head, at 8 p.m., it could be a record low year for THE VOICE.

THE BLACKLIST picked right back up from where it left off. The second year hit drama easily won the 10 p.m. hour and will project out to the #2 show of the night, following TBBT. Retention out of THE VOICE was very impressive, keeping 95% of the lead in audience.

FOX had a mixed night. GOTHAM premiered well, drawing a 3.2 rating in Adults 18-49, and capturing 8.21 million viewers., but SLEEPY HOLLOW's second season premiere fell off by 33% in viewers and 38% in the demo. It will be interesting to see how both series do once FOX releases the Live+3 or Live+7 numbers.

ABC was fourth in the A18-49 ratings, third in total viewers, and the new drama FOREVER received a luke-warm sampling. It too lost a third of it's lead in, but could only generate a 1.7 demo rating. Expect worse numbers for the series on its Tuesday night run, going against PERSON OF INTEREST and CHICAGO FIRE.

Final L+SD Network Averages:

ABC - 11.4 million viewers, 2.0 rating in A18-49

CBS - 13.2 million viewers, 3.5 rating in A18-49

CW - 0.8 million viewers, 0.3 rating in A18-49

FOX - 6.9 million viewers, 2.6 rating in A18-49

NBC - 12.7 million viewers, 3.7 rating in A18-49

Time	Net	Program	Viewers*	A18-49	L+3^	L+7^
8:00	ABC	Dancing With the Stars	12.76	2.2	13.70(2.2)	14.10(2.3)
10:00	ABC	Forever	8.59	1.7	12.10(2.2)	13.30(2.4)
8:00	CBS	The Big Bang Theory	18.03	5.4		24.85(8.2)
8:30	CBS	The Big Bang Theory	18.24	5.4		25.18(8.3)
9:00	CBS	Scorpion	13.83	3.2		18.91(4.9)
10:00	CBS	Under The Dome	7.52	1.8		11.57(3.0)
8:00	CW	Whose Line? [R]	0.72	0.2
8:30	CW	Whose Line? [R]	0.74	0.2
9:00	CW	ANTM	0.78	0.3
8:00	FOX	Gotham	8.21	3.2
9:00	FOX	Sleepy Hollow	5.51	2.0
8:00	NBC	The Voice	12.95	3.9	14.50(4.6)	14.90(4.8)
10:00	NBC	The Blacklist	12.34	3.4	17.40(5.2)	18.80(5.7)

* - in millions
^ - projected Live+3 and Live+7:
millions of viewers(18-49 demo rating)