TV Ratings: 7.5M Viewers For Jeopardy in Premiere Week

“Jeopardy” retained its crown as the most-watched syndicated TV series during its premiere week, drawing 7.5 million viewers, a 4% rise from the previous year’s debut, per Nielsen Live + Same Day data. 

The Sony Pictures Television-produced trivia show was among seven CBS Media Ventures-distributed programs in the top 10 syndicated series for the week of Sept. 8-14. 

The others included “Wheel of Fortune” (No. 2), “Inside Edition” (No. 4), “Entertainment Tonight” (No. 5), “Hot Bench” (No. 6), “The Drew Barrymore Show” (No. 8), and “Flip Side” (No. 9).

Five of these seven shows saw year-over-year premiere week gains. Alongside “Jeopardy’s” 4% increase, “The Drew Barrymore Show” grew 8% to 1.3 million viewers, securing the No. 2 spot among syndicated talk shows behind “Live With Kelly and Mark.” “Hot Bench,” the leading syndicated court show, posted its strongest premiere week in four years, up 15% to 2.1 million viewers. “Inside Edition,” the top syndicated newsmagazine, rose 1% to 3 million viewers, while “Flip Side” surged 17% from its debut season to reach 1 million viewers.

Viewership was impacted by significant preemptions during premiere week, including Monday Night Football, the 24th anniversary of 9/11, and coverage of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, which are typical for this period. Without these disruptions, syndicated series viewership would likely have been higher.