NBC's "The Biggest Loser" premiered to higher ratings than it did last season, as Fox won the night largely on the strength of NFL overrun, according to preliminary numbers.
While Fox's numbers are approximate due to the nature of live sports, the network currently holds first place in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic with a 5.6 rating/14 share and in total viewers with 13.7 million. Football overrun at 7 p.m. posted the night's top numbers for an individual timeslot with a 15.8/40 and 33.9 million total viewers, while "The O.T." at 7:30 drew a 7.6/19 with 19.3 million total viewers. The network's animated programming slate got a big boost from football. "The Simpsons" at 8 posted a 4.4/11 — the night's best performance for an entertainment program — and 9.6 million total viewers. "Bob's Burgers" at 8:30 drew a 3.1/8 — the show's best performance since its series premiere in September 2011 — with 6.5 million total viewers. "Family Guy" at 9 grabbed a 3.5/8 — a 40 percent jump from its last original two weeks ago — and had 7 million total viewers, while "American Dad" at 9:30 also grew 40 percent from its last original airing two weeks ago, posting a 2.8/7 with 5.6 million total viewers.
NBC drew second place in ratings and third in total viewers with a 2.2/6 and 6.4 million. The season premiere of "Dateline" at 7 posted a 1.5/4, a 25 percent jump from last year's winter premiere, and took 5.9 million total viewers, while "The Biggest Loser" at 9 premiered its new season with a 2.9/7 — 21 percent boost over last year's winter premiere — and had 7 million total viewers.
ABC grabbed third in ratings and fourth in total viewers with a 1.8/5 and 5.5 million. Following a "Once Upon a Time" repeat at 7, a new episode of the series at 8 drew even with its last original five weeks ago with a 3.1/8 and had 9 million total viewers. "Revenge" at 9 drew a 2.3/5 with 7 million total viewers. "Happy Endings" at 10 posted a 1.0/3 — down 23 percent from its last original in mid-December, and a series low — and drew 2.6 million total viewers, while "Don't Trust the B—- in Apt. 23" at 10:30 dropped off 18 percent to a 0.9/2, tying a series low, and drew 2.2 million total viewers.
CBS took fourth place in ratings and second in total viewers with a 1.7/4 and 10 million. "60 Minutes" at 7 had a 1.4/4 with 9.5 million total viewers. Following a "Person of Interest" repeat, "The Good Wife" at 9 returned evenly after a five-week hiatus with a 1.8.4 and 10 million total viewers. "The Mentalist" at 10 jumped 31 percent from its last original four weeks ago, posting a 2.1/6 and taking 10.7 million total viewers.
