Ratings Rat Race: CBS’ ‘Intelligence’ Gets Solid Sampling, ABC’s ‘Killer Women’ DOA

CBS‘ new procedural Intelligence fit in well with the network’s existing crime dramas. Nestled between the most watched scripted series on television, NCIS, and Person Of Interest, Intelligence drew 16.6 million viewers to become the most watched new series premiere this season. In adults 18-49, it posted a respectable 2.4 rating. Its lead-in, NCIS, logged its largest Live+same day audience of the season, 20.7 million, and was up a tenth from the 18-49 fast national for its most recent original on December 17. Intelligence actually matched the most recent demo delivery of the Tuesday 9 PM slot regular, NCIS: LA, and edged it in total viewers (16.6 million vs. 15.3 million, though NCIS:LA had to face The Voice finale). The real test for Intelligence will come next week when it moves into its regular Monday 10 PM slot with no NCIS lead-in. At 10 PM, Person Of Interest (2.0, 12.1 million) also returned from hiatus up a tenth from its most recent episode.  CBS won the night in total viewers (16.5m) and A18-49 (2.4).

After the dismal 0.7 for the premiere of limited series The Assets on Thursday, ABC hit another setback last night when new drama Killer Women opened with a 0.9 in adults 18-49, down 31% from the underwhelming debut of Lucky 7 in the Tuesday 10 PM slot last fall and tying NBC’s 2013 midseason series Do No Harm as the lowest rated in-season drama series debut on the Big 4. This marks the latest casualty in the Tuesday 10 PM hour for ABC, which has not seen a steady performer there since Body Of Proof, a drama the network cancelled in May and considered reviving before recently scrapping that plan. News was more encouraging from 8-10 PM where Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2.1) was up a tenth from the fast national for its most recent original on December 10 (but still tied for a season low), The Goldbergs (1.7) was up 6%, and Trophy Wife (1.2) were flat. All three posted viewership gains.  (more…)