CBS takes lead with ‘Limitless,’ ‘NCIS,’ ‘Black’
Entertainment series push the network to top of most-watched list for second week.
CBS was the mostwatched network for the second time in the 2-week-old prime-time television season, thanks in part to having the week’s most-watched entertainment program, “NCIS,” the most-watched new series, “Limitless,” and the most-watched premiere, “Code Black.”
CBS averaged 10.33 million viewers for its primetime programming between Sept. 28 and Sunday, according to live-plus-sameday figures released by Nielsen today. NBC was second, averaging 9.3 million, followed by ABC, which averaged 6.78 million, and Fox, which averaged 5.34 million.
Fox benefited from an hour of prime-time NFL programming it did not have last season. A 32-minute runover of its afternoon NFL coverage into prime time averaged 27.4 million viewers. The runover is not considered a separate program but is included in the weekly average.
Fox’s 28-minute postgame show, “The OT,”’ averaged 13.28 million viewers, ninth among the week’s prime-time programs. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” game between the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints was the week’s most-watched program, averaging 24.18 million viewers.
“NCIS”’ was first among entertainment programs and fourth overall, averaging 15.23 million viewers.
CBS’ “Code Black”’ was the lone drama among the week’s four premieres on the four major broadcast networks and the mostwatched, averaging 8.58 million viewers, winning its Wednesday 10-11 p.m. time slot and finishing 29th for the week.
Despite airing on a Friday, customarily the night when television viewing is the second-lowest of the week, ABC’s “Dr. Ken” was the most-watched of the comedy premieres, averaging 6.71 million viewers to win its Friday 8:30-9 p.m. time slot and finish 44th for the week.
The “Dr. Ken” premiere was the first comedy to draw more viewers than an original episode of “Last Man Standing” preceding it since the Nov. 2, 2012 premiere of “Malibu Country,” which ran for one season.