Ratings: Harbingers in the Fountain

Fast National ratings for Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009

Four of the five broadcast networks had new programming Thursday, but none of them emerged as a clear winner. "Survivor: Samoa" helped CBS win the night, but the show, now in its 19th cycle, debuted to some of its lowest numbers ever.

CBS led the night overall with 9.7 million viewers and a 6.1 rating/10 share. FOX (9 million, 5.4/9) came in second, ahead of NBC (7.3 million, 4.5/8). ABC, which was still in rerun mode, drew 4.4 million viewers and a 3.1/5. The CW brought up the rear with 3.3 million viewers and a 2.2/4.

FOX won the adults 18-49 demographic with a 3.0 rating, narrowly beating NBC's 2.9. CBS took third with a 2.5, followed by The CW, 1.4, and ABC, 1.3.

Thursday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "Survivor: Samoa" premiere (11.5 million viewers, 6.7/11 households)
FOX: "Bones" season premiere (10.1 million, 6.1/10)
NBC: "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" (5.7 million, 3.7/6)/"Parks and Recreation" season premiere (5 million, 3.2/5)
ABC: "Grey's Anatomy" rerun (4.3 million, 3.0/5)
The CW: "The Vampire Diaries" (3.8 million, 2.5/4)

18-49 leader: "Survivor: Samoa" (3.5)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.

Source: Zap2It