'Deal' strong, 'Studio 60' OK for Peacock Monday

Fast National ratings for Monday, Sept. 18, 2006

Aaron Sorkin's new drama "Studio 60" started off not too badly for NBC on Monday, but it was "Deal or No Deal" that led the network to a ratings win on the first night of the 2006-07 season.

NBC averaged a 9.3 rating/14 share in primetime, narrowly beating CBS' 9.0/14. FOX took third with a 5.3/8. ABC, 5.1/8, was not far behind in fourth, while new network The CW, which won't start original programming until Wednesday, came in at 1.4/2.

In the adults 18-49 demographic, NBC's 4.9 rating captured the top spot over CBS' 4.7. ABC and FOX tied for third at 3.3/8. The CW trailed with a 0.8.

The season premiere of "Deal or No Deal" put NBC on top at 8 p.m. with an 8.9/14. The series premiere of "The Class," 6.9/11, and "How I Met Your Mother," 6.8/10, finished second for CBS. "Prison Break" posted a 5.7/9 for FOX. The season premiere of "Wife Swap" was fourth for ABC, while a "7th Heaven" rerun on The CW drew a 1.8/3.

"Deal or No Deal" improved to 10.2/15 at 9 p.m. to keep NBC in the lead. CBS stayed in second with the season premieres of "Two and a Half Men," 9.7/14, and "The New Adventures of Old Christine," 8.1/12. A second "Wife Swap," 5.6/8, moved ABC ahead of FOX and "Vanished," 4.8/7. The CW aired a network-launch special.

At 10 p.m., the season premiere of "CSI: Miami" scored the night's biggest audience with an 11.2/17. "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" averaged a decent 8.6/14 for NBC but lost a significant number of viewers in its second half-hour. ABC was third with "Supernanny," 4.8/8.

Ratings information is taken from fast national data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.