“Limitless,” the CBS sequel to the 2011 film thriller with the same title, was the most-watched of Tuesday’s three series premieres, averaging 9.86 million viewers, according to live-plus-same-day figures released by Nielsen.
“Limitless” retained 78.1 percent of the 12.62 million average audience of “NCIS: New Orleans” that preceded it.
The percentage of viewers a program retains from the program preceding it is among the factors executives consider when determining whether to renew a series.
The return of the Muppets to prime-time broadcast television after a 19- year absence averaged 9.01 million viewers from 8-8:30 p.m. on ABC, finishing third in the time slot.
The two-hour premiere of Fox’s comedy-horror murder mystery “Scream Queens” averaged 4.04 million viewers, fourth in its 8-10 p.m. time slot.
Ratings for premieres are often unrepresentative of how the series will fare due to the heavy promotion they receive and because viewers who are interested in the concept may not return for future episodes.
CBS was the night’s most-watched network, averaging 13.56 million viewers for its lineup of “NCIS” (18.19 million), “NCIS: New Orleans” and “Limitless.”
NBC was second, averaging 10.24 million for a two-hour episode of “The Voice” (12.35 million) and “Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris” (5.91 million).
ABC was third, averaging 8.9 million for “The Muppets,” “Fresh Off the Boat” (6.05 million); and a special two-hour episode of “Dancing with the Stars” (9.58 million).
Fox devoted its entire two-hour prime-time schedule to “Scream Queens.”
NBC finished first among among viewers ages 18-49, the group ABC, Fox and NBC target and advertisers covet because it watches less television and is harder to reach.
NBC also led among viewers ages 18-34 while CBS was first among viewers 50 and older, a group it has long dominated.
ABC, CBS and NBC broadcast three hours of prime-time programming for ratings purposes Monday and Fox two hours.
—City News Service