ABC's 'Defying Gravity' stays earthbound

Fast National ratings for Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009

Sunday's ratings followed their usual pattern, with CBS well ahead of everyone else in total viewers and FOX supplying some competition in the 18-49 demographic. ABC's new show "Defying Gravity," however, didn't really get off the ground.

CBS led the night with 7.26 million viewers and a 4.7 rating/9 share in households (and was helped a bit by Tiger Woods' Buick Open victory leading into primetime). NBC (4.43 million, 2.7/5) narrowly beat ABC (4.26 million, 2.7/5) for second. FOX came in fourth with 3.29 million viewers and a 2.0/4. The CW trailed with 1.64 million viewers and a 1.0/2.

In the adults 18-49 demographic, FOX and CBS tied for the lead at 1.5. ABC took third with a 1.1, followed by NBC, 1.0, and The CW, 0.6.

Here's the hour-by-hour rundown.

7 p.m.

CBS: "60 Minutes" (9.2 million viewers, 6.0/12 households)
ABC: "America's Funniest Home Videos" rerun (5.1 million, 3.1/6)
NBC: "Dateline" (5 million, 3.3/6)
FOX: "'Til Death" rerun (1.7 million, 1.0/2)/"American Dad" rerun (1.8 million, 1.1/2)
The CW: "Easy Money" (687,000, 0.4/1)

18-49 leader: ABC and CBS tied at 1.3

8 p.m.

CBS: "Big Brother 11" (6.9 million, 4.3/8)
ABC: Special: "Ty's Great British Adventure" (4.52 million, 2.8/5)
NBC: "Merlin" (4.45 million, 2.7/5)
FOX: "The Simpsons" reruns -- two episodes (3.7 million, 2.3/4)
The CW: Movie: "Overboard" (1.8 million, 1.2/2)

18-49 leader: "Big Brother" (2.1)

9 p.m.

CBS: "Cold Case" rerun (6.6 million, 4.3/7)
FOX: "Family Guy" rerun (4.6 million, 2.7/5)/"The Simpsons" rerun (4.3 million, 2.5/4)
NBC: Miniseries: "The Storm" (4.2 million, 2.5/4)
ABC: "Defying Gravity" (3.8 million, 2.4/4)
The CW: "Overboard" (2.4 million, 1.4/2)

18-49 leader: "Family Guy" (2.2)

10 p.m.

CBS: "Without a Trace" rerun (6.3 million, 4.3/8)
NBC: "The Storm" (4 million, 2.5/4)
ABC: "Defying Gravity" (3.6 million, 2.3/4)

18-49 leader: "Without a Trace" (1.3)

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change.