Returning shows lead Monday, mixed start for newbies

Fast National ratings for Monday, Sept. 24, 2007

The first official night of the 2007-08 television season went ABC's way, while none of the night's new shows had a breakout premiere.

Thanks to "Dancing with the Stars," ABC won the night with a 10.1 rating/15 share. CBS finished second at 7.9/12, followed by NBC at 6.6/10. FOX, 4.4/7, came in fourth, and The CW, which went with an all-rerun lineup, was way off the pace at 1.1/2.

The adults 18-49 race was much tighter, with ABC's 4.7 rating just beating NBC's 4.6 for the lead. CBS took third with a 4.2. FOX averaged 2.7 and The CW 0.7.

"Dancing with the Stars" kicked off its fifth cycle with a 13.4/21 at 8 p.m. CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," 5.3/8, and "The Big Bang Theory," 6.0/9, tied for second in households with the premiere of NBC's "Chuck," which had a slight edge in total viewers and the 18-49 demo. "Prison Break" snagged a 4.7/7 for FOX. The CW went with back-to-back reruns of "Everybody Hates Chris."

The conclusion of "Dancing," 13.7/20, and the premiere of "The Bachelor," 7.2/11, kept ABC on top at 9 p.m. The season opener of "Heroes" drew an 8.1/12 for NBC, tying for second in households with "Two and a Half Men," 8.4/12, and "Rules of Engagement," 7.7/11, on CBS (NBC again had more viewers). "K-Ville" slipped from its premiere, earning a 4.1/6 for FOX. Repeats of "Girlfriends" and "The Game" aired on The CW.

At 10 p.m., CBS' "CSI: Miami" began its season with a 9.8/16. "The Bachelor," 6.3/10, was second in households for ABC, but NBC's "Journeyman," 5.9/10, had an edge in viewers despite losing a sizable portion of its lead-in audience.

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