The CW started the 2009-10 “pre-season” with disappointing results, as the season premiere of 90210 drew only a 1.7 rating in the adults 18-34 demo (down 45% from the 3.1 rating for the 2 hour premiere last season), and the series premiere of Melrose Place managed only a 1.5 rating in the adults 18-34 demo. I’m sure we’ll get gender specific womens demo numbers later today and I will update the post with them.
Once again it was Fox powered by Hell’s Kitchen topping NBC and others for the nightly ratings win.

More on the CW premiere numbers: 90210 had a 1.3 adults 18-49 rating / 4 share, 2.561 million average viewers, down 50% the 2.6/9 adults 18-49 rating it earned in its premiere last season. Melrose Place tallied a 1.3 adults 18-49 rating / 3 share / 2.270 million average viewers.
Winning at 8pm, Hell’s Kitchen delivered a 3.6 rating /11 share among Adults 18-49 and 7.607 million viewers to win the hour’s competition in the demos. The repeat competition was well back: ABC’s Shark Tank (1.0/3/3.40m), CBS’ NCIS (2.1/6/10.7m), and NBC’s America’s Got Talent (1.5/5/6.80m).

From 9-11, NBC’s America’s Got Talent ruled with a (2.85/8/11.7m). At 9, CBS’s Big Brother 11 (2.7/7/8.126m) up a demo tick from last week. Fox’s More to Love posted a (1.9/5/4.36m). ABC’s Shaq Vs. had a(1.6/4/3.85m).
At 10pm, ABC’s Primetime: Family Secrets drew a (2.2/6/5.71m), and CBS’s The Mentalist repeat delivered a (1.4/4/6.38m).
Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.