Updated 10:24 am PT: Final ratings from Nielsen have “9-1-1” adjusting up to a 2.6 rating in the key demo and 9.8 million total viewers, up 44 percent in both measures compared to the Season 1 premiere in January.
Previously: The second season of “9-1-1” came in hot Sunday night, debuting to a 2.2 rating/9 share and 8.5 million viewers after the NFL’s Week 3 showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks, according to overnight data from Nielsen.
That puts the start of Season 2 up 22 percent in both the key adults 18-49 demo and total viewers from the Ryan Murphy emergency-responder drama’s series premiere back in January, which scored a 1.8/6 and 6.8 million viewers. Those impressive stats also mark a series high for “9-1-1.”
While the return of the Angela Bassett and Peter Krause-led series helped its home network come in second with both adults 18-49 and total viewers for the evening, “9-1-1” didn’t come close to tackling NBC’s “Sunday Night Football.” But neither did anything else on broadcast television.
NBC was first in ratings with a 4.6 rating/19 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 14.2 million, according to preliminary numbers. At 7, “Football Night in America” posted a 2.1/9 and 7.1 million viewers. From 8-11, the “Sunday Night Football” game between the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots landed a 13.6/23. Due to the nature of live sports, these numbers are subject to change and time-zoned adjusted data for total viewers will be available later Monday.
Fox was second in ratings with a 2.4/10 and in viewers with 8.2 million. The end of the Cowboys vs. Seahawks game at 7 got a 4.3/19 and 14 million viewers. It was followed by the return of “9-1-1” at 9 p.m.
CBS was third in ratings with a 0.8/3 and in viewers with 5.3 million. At 7, “60 Minutes” received a 1.1/5 an 8.8 million viewers. At 8, “Big Brother” posted a 1.3/5 and 5.5 million viewers and was followed by encores.
ABC was fourth in ratings with a 0.6/2 and 4 million viewers. Following a repeat at 7, the “Celebrity Family Feud” finale at 8 managed a 0.6/2 and 4.1 million viewers. At 9, “$100,000 Pyramid” settled for a 0.6/2 and 4.1 million viewers. The show’s season finale at 10 had a 0.5/2 and 3.4 million viewers.
Univision was fifth in ratings with a 0.5/2 and in viewers with 1.5 million.
Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.4/2 and in viewers with 1.1 million.
The CW does not program nationally on Sundays — yet.