Final Ratings: Monday’s “Supergirl” premiere posted a strong 3.1 adults 18-49 rating with 12.955 million total viewers.
Its viewership number was the best for a fall 2015-16 series premiere. Its adults 18-49 number ties that of “Blindspot” for the #1 honor.
Assistance for the strong bow came courtesy veteran comedy “The Big Bang Theory,” which drew a 4.4 with 16.324 million viewers as the lead-in.
“Supergirl,” however, deserves credit for holding up throughout its first hour. Whereas shows airing out of tentpoles tend to bleed viewers as their episodes progress, preliminary data suggested “Supergirl” gained in adults 18-49 — and lost only a small portion of viewers — in its second half hour.
“Supergirl” also made better use of its “The Big Bang Theory” lead-in than fellow CBS newcomer “Life in Pieces.” The comedy, which premiered out of a stronger “Big Bang” (4.7 with 18.20 million), drew a 2.6 with 11.28 million on September 21.
Those points do not serve to trivialize the importance of the lead-in. It matters. We will find out the extent to which it matters next week, when “Supergirl” airs from 8-9PM — and without “TBBT” lead-in support.
— CBS’ Monday lineup also included a 90-minute “Scorpion” (1.9, 9.692 million).
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Fast National Ratings: CBS’ “Supergirl” got off to an impressive start.
Per Nielsen fast national data, Monday’s premiere posted a 3.1 adults 18-49 rating with 13.001 million viewers in the 8:30-9PM half hour and a 3.2 with 12.877 million viewers in the 9-9:30PM half hour.
The half-hours average out to a 3.2 with 12.939 million viewers. Thus far, the performance is the best for a 2015-16 broadcast network series premiere.
Based on the fast nationals, it also ranks as the night’s #2 broadcast network program.
Granted, it helps that it had the night’s #1 broadcast network program as its lead-in. CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” drew a 4.2 adults 18-49 rating with 15.865 million viewers in the 8-8:30PM half hour.
While that lead-in surely helped matters, it is worth noting that CBS’ freshman comedy “Life in Pieces” drew softer premiere numbers out of a stronger “The Big Bang Theory” lead-in. The September 21 “Life in Pieces” premiere drew a 2.6 with 11.28 million viewers following a “Big Bang” that posted a 4.7 with 18.20 million.
“Supergirl” also deserves credit for improving its adults 18-49 rating in the second half-hour.
Beginning next week, “Supergirl” will occupy the 8-9PM hour — and air without “TBBT” support.
— CBS’ Monday also included “Scorpion.” The 90-minute broadcast posted a 2.0 with 9.794 million viewers.
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Bolstered by special lead-in support from “The Big Bang Theory” and ample promotion, CBS’ “Supergirl” premiere delivered a good performance.
Per metered market data, Monday’s launch garnered a 7.9 overnight household rating.
Solid in any context, the number fares particularly well in a comparison to that of CBS’ “Life in Pieces.”
Despite airing out of a stronger “The Big Bang Theory” (11.6 overnight household rating that night versus a 10.3 overnight household rating this Monday), the “Life in Pieces” premiere posted a lesser 7.2 overnight household rating on September 21.
While there is no guarantee “Supergirl” also outperformed the “Life in Pieces” launch in adults 18-49 and total viewership, it almost certainly posted admirable numbers in both columns. Such data will be revealed by 11:15AM ET.
The question now concerns whether “Supergirl” can hold up without its “The Big Bang Theory” lead-in support. The aforementioned “Life in Pieces” fell in the weeks following its premiere — it went as low as a 4.9, and last week’s episode drew a 5.3 — and it received support from “The Big Bang Theory” each week.
Moving forward, “Supergirl” will launch CBS’ night in the 8PM hour.
— Monday’s CBS lineup also included a 90-minute “Scorpion.” It drew a 6.4 overnight household rating.