Press Release excerpt:
'HEROES' RETURNS AS MONDAY'S #1 SHOW IN ADULTS 18-49
SECOND-SEASON DEBUT OF 'HEROES' TOPS ITS YEAR-AGO SERIES PREMIERE BY 10 PERCENT IN 18-49
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BURBANK, Calif. September 25, 2007 The second-season debut of "Heroes" was Monday night's #1 show in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, according to preliminary "fast affiliate-based" "live plus same day" viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research. In the key 18-49 category, the season debut of "Heroes" jumped 10 percent above the show's series premiere last year on September 25, 2006.
Last night at 9 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (6.5 rating, 15 share in adults 18-49, 14.1 million viewers overall) returned as the night's #1 program in adults 18-49, topping such competition as ABC's season premiere of "Dancing With the Stars," CBS' season premieres of "Two and a Half Men" and "CSI: Miami" and Fox's "Prison Break."
"Heroes" delivered the highest 18-49 rating for any entertainment telecast on any network since the season finale of Fox's "House" on May 29.
"Heroes" won both its half-hours in adults 18-49, topping the final half-hour of "Dancing With the Stars" from 9-9:30 p.m. ET. Among adults 18-34, "Heroes" doubled its closest competition (7.3 vs. a 3.6 for ABC's "Dancing"/"Bachelor" combo). Among men 18-34, "Heroes" tripled its closest competitor (7.8 vs. a 2.5 for CBS's comedies).
This marks the top-scoring episode of "Heroes" in both 18-49 and total viewers since March 5. Versus its year-ago series-debut 18-49 results (a 5.9/14 on September 25, 2006), "Heroes" grew by 10 percent.
Preliminary 18-49 averages for Monday night are: ABC, 4.7/12; NBC, 4.6/11; CBS, 4.2/10; Fox, 2.7/7; CW, 0.7/2. In overall total viewers, September 24 preliminary results are: ABC, 15.4 million; CBS, 12.2 million; NBC, 11.0 million; Fox, 6.7 million; CW, 1.7 million
Note that all national ratings are "live plus same day" unless otherwise indicated. Metered-market household ratings are live only.