"Survivor: Nicaragua" Wins in all Key Measures, Posting Best Viewer and Adult 18-49 Deliveries with a Regularly Scheduled Program Since 2003

The Season Premiere of "Criminal Minds" is the Night's #1 Program in Viewers

The Series Premiere of "The Defenders" Places First in Viewers and Adults 25-54

CBS swept the first Wednesday of the new season in all key ratings measures as the Network won all three hours in viewers and adults 25-54 while the season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS was the night's #1 program in viewers, according to Nielsen live plus same day ratings for Sept. 22.

SURVIVOR: NICARAGUA (P) was first in households (7.0/12), viewers (12.59m), adults 25-54 (5.1/14), adults 18-49 (4.0/12) and adults 18-34 (2.7/09) at 8:00 PM.  Compared to last week, SURVIVOR was up +3% in households (from 6.8/11), +4% in adults 18-34 (from 2.6/09), even in adults 18-49 and added +360,000 viewers (from 12.23m, +3%). 

This is CBS's best delivery in this time slot with a regularly scheduled program in  viewers and adults 18-49 since Feb. 26, 2003 ("Star Search").

At 9:00 PM, CRIMINAL MINDS (P), was first in households (8.6/14), viewers (14.13m), adults 25-54 (5.1/12) and second in adults 18-49 (4.0/11).  CRIMINAL MINDS was Wednesday's #1 program in viewers.

At 10:00 PM, the series premiere of THE DEFENDERS (P) was first in households (7.7/14), viewers (12.17m), adults 25-54 (4.0/11) and second in adults 18-49 (2.9/08).  CBS won the 10:00-11:00 PM time slot in viewers and adults 25-54 for the third consecutive night. 

For the night, CBS was first in households (7.8/13), viewers (12.96m), adults 25-54 (4.7/12) and adults 18-49 (3.6/10).  This was the fourth time in five years that CBS won premiere week Wednesday in all of these measures. 

CBS RESEARCH LIVE PLUS 7-DAY PROJECTIONS

Estimated Increases in Viewers and Adults 18-49 Versus Live Plus

Same Day Fast Affiliate Results

              Total                               Total

                                           Viewer Lift     Live +7         A18-49 Lift     Live +7

Survivor: Nicaragua               1.86m              14.33m            +0.9                 4.9

Criminal Minds                        1.71m              15.79m            +0.7                 4.7

The Defenders                        1.05m              13.14m            +0.4                 3.3

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Press Contacts:            

Ed Harrison            818-655-1584       ed.harrison@cbs.com

Jeremy Murphy      212-975-4577       jeremy.murphy@cbs.com