CBS 'Big Bang Theory' Tops Thursday in Viewers and Key Demos

THE BIG BANG THEORY was Thursday's #1 program in viewers and key demographics, THE MENTALIST placed first in its time period in viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 as CBS won Thursday in viewers and finished second in adults 18-49, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Oct. 6.

THE BIG BANG THEORY was first in households (8.2/14), viewers (13.63m), adults 25-54 (5.7/16), adults 18-49 (4.4/13) and adults 18-34 (3.1/10). THE BIG BANG THEORY was the night's top broadcast in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 for the third consecutive week.

HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN was second in households (4.8/08), viewers (7.82m), adults 25-54 (3.3/08) and adults 18-49 (2.5/07).

PERSON OF INTEREST was second in households (7.0/11, -0.1 behind FOX), viewers (11.46m, -0.36m behind FOX), tied for second in adults 25-54 (3.6/08, with ABC) and averaged 2.5/06 in adults 18-49.

THE MENTALIST was first in households (8.0/13), viewers (12.89m), adults 25-54 (3.8/09) and adults 18-49 (2.7/09). Compared to last week, THE MENTALIST was up +3% in adults 25-54 (from 3.7/09) and +4% in adults 18-49 (from 2.6/07).

For the night, CBS was first in households (7.2/11) and viewers (11.69m), second in adults 25-54 (4.0/10) and adults 18-49 (2.9/08).

Updated Thursday ratings will be available this afternoon.

Note: DVR penetration is at 42%, up from 38% last year. Last Fall, Live+7 audiences for original entertainment series on CBS gained over 1.8 million viewers, on average, over Live+ Same Day ratings, more than any other network. This season, we expect DVR penetration to continue to increase and, as a result, we expect DVR playback audiences to grow as well.