TV Ratings: Slide Continues, "Desperate Housewives" Wins With Its Lowest Season Premiere To Date

There was more disheartening news for broadcasters Sunday with another night of season premieres returning lower than last year.

Yet the evening's biggest scripted debuts -- ABC's "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters" -- managed to contain their ratings erosion to single-digit declines, drops that broadcasters nowadays consider acceptable, if not a relief.

NBC won the night with "Sunday Night Football," Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears (15.4 million viewers, 6.3 preliminary adults 18-49 rating and a 15 share, according to Nielsen), complete with 90-minutes of pregame warm-up.

At 9 p.m., "Housewives" (18.4 million, 7.0/16, down 7%) was the night's highest-rated and most-watched show and, along with last week's premiere of "Grey's," marks the biggest scripted-series number we've seen this fall. At 10 p.m., ABC aired the return of "Brothers & Sisters" (12.4 million, 4.7/12, down 6%). Still, that's the lowest-rated premieres yet for both ABC dramas.

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Comments

[BlackMagicWoman]

As much as I love Housewives, my Eagles were playing SNF. Tivo time!

[Puller58]

The DHs need to do a guest spot on "Wipeout." Having those birdbrains bouncing off the big balls would be worthwhile by itself.

[Mk26gmls]

Football Rules! My wife watches whatever she wants during the entire week on TV, but when it comes to Sunday, that is daddy's day. Football at 1PM, 4:15 PM and then the Sunday night game. Sunday's are awesome from September to December.

[sandy1938]

I liked the premiere of Desperate Housewives. But in case the Hollywood executives dont understand why ratings have dropped for ALL of the popular show's, I'll be happy to explain it to them: During the writer's strike last year, people stopped following these shows, and have created new habits.

They can thank their own greed for the loss in ratings.

[progressivelady]

the housewive's was really good..lol

[kellygrrrl]

"Taxi to the Darkside" is premiering on HBO right now

looks pretty good

[cnick]

The show was terrible!!!!

[VikingQuest]

Of course football wins, on a side note: I have found the pre game on channel 11 unwatchable with KO & DP.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

that was a good game, btw the Bills is 4-0

[apoyo]

Maybe we'll get some shows worth watching now.

[AngryAmish]

Oooohhhhh, a five-year jump into the future for the gals on "Desperate Housewives," a.k.a. "Desperate Screen Writers." I was so looking forward to previewing all those fabulous 2013 automobiles and getting a half-decade head start on fashion trends. Boy, was I disappointed. 2013 looks JUST LIKE 2008!