TV ratings: ABC likes the sound of CMA Festival Monday

By Rick Porter

    

September 1, 2009 8:44 AM ET

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Fast National ratings for Monday, Aug. 31, 2009

ABC's night-long broadcast of highlights from the CMA Music Festival played a nice tune in the ratings Monday, giving the network a victory for the night.

The Alphabet drew 7.8 million viewers and a 5.0 rating/8 share in households to beat out the usually dominant CBS (6.9 million, 4.6/8). NBC (5.6 million, 3.8/6) came in third. FOX (4.1 million, 2.7/4) was fourth, and The CW, although it ticked up a little, still trailed with 1.4 million viewers and a 1.0/2.

ABC also led among adults 18-49 with a 2.1 rating, edging CBS' 2.0. FOX and NBC tied for third in the key ad demographic at 1.4. The CW scored a 0.5.

The hourly breakdown:

8 p.m.

ABC: CMA Music Festival (8.1 million viewers, 5.0/8 households)
CBS: "How I Met Your Mother" reruns - two episodes (4.86 million, 3.2/5)
NBC: "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (4.84 million, 3.3/5)
FOX: "House" rerun (4.3 million, 2.8/5)
The CW: "One Tree Hill" rerun (1.5 million, 1.0/2)

18-49 leader: CMA Music Festival (2.1)

9 p.m.

ABC: CMA Music Festival (8.3 million, 5.2/8)
CBS: "Two and a Half Men" rerun (8.3 million, 5.5/9)/"The Big Bang Theory" rerun (8.1 million, 5.3/8)
NBC: "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (5.7 million, 3.8/6)
FOX: "Lie to Me" rerun (3.8 million, 2.5/4)
The CW: "Gossip Girl" rerun (1.3 million, 0.9/1)

18-49 leader: "The Big Bang Theory" (2.6)

10 p.m.

CBS: "CSI: Miami" rerun (7.7 million, 5.1/9)
ABC: CMA Music Festival (7.2 million, 4.7/8)
NBC: "Dateline" (6.1 million, 4.3/7)

18-49 leader: CMA Music Festival (2.1)

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