Hefty ratings
for return of ABC's 'Lost'
Averages a 5.6 in 18-49s, up 12 percent over last year
By Toni Fitzgerald
Feb 3, 2010
"Lost" returned with its highest rating in almost two years last night, on an evening where every Big Four network had strong numbers.
The two-hour sixth-season premiere of "Lost" averaged a 5.6 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen overnights, up 12 percent from a 5.0 for last year's premiere.
The show, airing from 9 to 11 p.m., had its best rating since Feb. 21, 2008, and boosted ABC to its best Tuesday night in months.
The network placed second to Fox, which had the night's highest-rated show with "American Idol" at an 8.9 at 8 p.m. That was off 1 percent from last week.
"Idol" didn't seem to be hurt by the addition of a "Lost" recap at 8, which pulled a strong 4.1 for ABC, third behind "Idol" and CBS's "NCIS," which was actually up 8 percent from last week.
All three networks may have benefited from the absence of an original "Biggest Loser" on NBC, which aired from 9 to 11 instead of its usual 8 to 10.
"Lost" won the final two hours of the night, but every network was competitive. "Loser" averaged a 3.7 for its episode, Fox's "Kitchen Nightmares" managed a 3.9 at 9, and CBS's "NCIS: Los Angeles" posted a 3.6. It's rare these days that four competing shows draw above a 3.5 in the same hour.
Buoyed by "Idol," Fox was first for the night among 18-49s with a 6.4 average overnight rating and a 16 share. ABC was second at 5.1/13, CBS third at 3.5/9, NBC fourth at 3.0/8, Univision fifth at 1.5/4 and CW sixth at 0.3/1.
As a reminder, all ratings are based on live-plus-same-day DVR playback. Seven-day DVR data won’t be available for several weeks. Thirty-four percent of Nielsen households have DVRs.
At 8 p.m. Fox led with an 8.9 for “Idol,” followed by CBS with a 4.3 for “NCIS.” ABC was third with a 4.1 for “Lost: The Final Chapter,” NBC fourth with a 1.6 for a repeat of “Loser,” Univision fifth with a 1.5 for “Hasta que el Dinero Nos Separe” and CW sixth with a 0.3 for a “90210” rerun.
ABC took the lead at 9 p.m. with a 5.7 for the first hour of “Lost,” while Fox slipped to second with a 3.9 for “Nightmares.” NBC was third with a 3.7 for the first half of a new “Loser,” CBS fourth with a 3.6 for “NCIS: Los Angeles,” Univision fifth with a 2.0 for “Sortilegio” and CW sixth with a 0.2 for a repeat of “Melrose Place.”
At 10 p.m. ABC was first again with a 5.5 for more “Lost,” with NBC second with a 3.7 for the second half of “Loser.” CBS was third with a 2.6 for “The Good Wife” and Univision fourth with a 1.1 for “Aqui y Ahora.”
Among households, CBS led the night with a 9.9 average overnight rating and a 16 share. Fox was second at 9.3/14, ABC third at 6.4/10, NBC fourth at 4.9/8, Univision fifth at 2.0/3 and CW sixth at 0.5/1.
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