CBS Touts Debut Numbers For ‘Vegas’

The new CBS dramamatic series Vegas drew 14.7 million viewers to its Tuesday debut. The debut helped CBS win the ratings race on Tuesday, although Vegas was not as strong as the NCIS franchise shows which provided its lead-in.

Here is the spin from the network’s PR machine based on the Nielsen Overnights:

“The new drama Vegas premiered to 14.7 million viewers, sweeping its time period in all key demographics, while NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles opened with their biggest premieres since 2009, as both swept their time periods, leading CBS to an across-the-board victory on Premiere Tuesday, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Sept. 25.

“NCIS posted its second-largest premiere audience ever (20.16m), topping “The Voice,” “Dancing with the Stars” and FOX comedies in viewers and key demographics. NCIS was first in households (12.3/19), viewers (20.16m), adults 25-54 (5.6/15) and adults 18-49 (4.1/12). If ratings hold, NCIS will have posted its best deliveries in all of these measures since Feb. 7, 2012 (the program’s 200th episode).

“At 9PM, NCIS: Los Angeles was first in households (10.2/15), viewers (16.72m), adults 25-54 (4.7/11) and adults 18-49 (3.4/09). If the ratings hold, NCIS: Los Angeles delivered its second-largest premiere audience and its best deliveries in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 since Jan. 3, 2012.

“At 10PM, Vegas was first in households (9.3/15), viewers (14.70m), adults 25-54 (3.5/09) and adults 18-49 (2.5/07). Vegas added +590,000 viewers (from 14.11m, +4%) compared to last year’s premiere of Unforgettable. If the ratings hold, Vegas posted the largest fall delivery for a CBS 10PM drama since 2002’s Judging Amy.

“For the night, CBS was first in households (10.6/17), viewers (17.19m), adults 25-54 (4.6/11) and adults 18-49 (3.3/09).”