GREY'S BEATS CSI
Ratings for Thursday,
September 21, 2006

The battle of the broadcast networks has just gotten juicier - ABC's hot medical drama Grey's Anatomy has dethroned CSI as the highest rated show on Thursday night and it may well become the #1 show on television this season.

Although CBS still managed to be the most watched network of the night, CSI was down over 7 million viewers in comparison to its season premiere last year. Grey's Anatomy, on the other hand, grew by over 6 million viewers. As a result, Grey's Anatomy beat CSI by 3 million viewers (25,14 mil vs. 22,04 mil). The medical drama was also stronger in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demo.

New dramas Shark on CBS and Six Degrees on ABC posted decent opening numbers (14,95 mil and 13,34 mil viewers, respectively), but the old favorite ER on NBC, which entered its 13th season, beat both freshman dramas with 15,58 mil viewers.

NBC's line-up of two comedies and a game show averaged about 10 mil viewers, giving the network a decent third place. FOX was almost invisible with its comedy and reality programming (Celebrity Duets at 9pm - 3,29 mil viewers). The CW aired repeats of Smallville and Supernatural finishing fifth.