“Heroes” Posts Weak Ratings Against “Bachelor,” Soft Fiesta Bowl

The aggressive ad campaign for the return of “Heroes” proved fruitless, as Monday’s two hour episode posted yet another weak rating for NBC.

Worse than the mere magnitude of the 2.2 adults 18-49 rating (with an average of 4.9 million viewers) is the fact that the episode lost a portion of its audience from hour one to two. After starting with a 2.3 with 5.3 million viewers, hour two was good for a 2.1 with 4.6 million. A portion of the dip could be explained by the Fiesta Bowl picking up steam in the 9PM hour, but it remains a bad sign when a two hour drama episode cannot hold its audience until the end.

“The Jay Leno Show” followed with a 1.5 and 4.8 million viewers.

Elsewhere, the premiere of “The Bachelor: On the Wings of Love” built slightly on last year’s season premiere for a 3.3 rating with 9.5 million viewers. “Conveyor Belt of Love” led out with a 2.7 rating and 6.5 million watchers.

With a live audience average very subject to change, the Fiesta Bowl came in at a 4.4 with 13.1 million viewers from 8:30-11PM. If that figure is even close to accurate, this year’s game between TCU and Boise State dropped dramatically (albeit expectedly) from last year’s Bowl between Texas and Ohio State.