With fast affiliate ratings from Tuesday's presidential debate not yet adjusted for time zones, returns are subject to significant change, but early returns have NBC locking down a clear win with adults 18-49.
The Voice, up a tenth of a point from last Tuesday's episode, started the night with a 4.6 rating among adults 18-49, leading into NBC News' coverage of the debate. Early figures have NBC in the lead of other broadcast debate coverage with a 4.7 adults 18-49 rating and 12.2 million viewers.
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ABC, which had a slightly boosted Dancing With the Stars results episode pull a 2.1 adults rating, was behind NBC with a 2.8 adults rating and 10.96 million viewers for its debate numbers.
An encore of NCIS: Los Angeles led into CBS' debate block. The network saw an average 2.2 adults rating and 8.3 million viewers for the two-hour broadcast.
New episodes of Raising Hope and Ben and Kate were both down to a 1.7 and 1.2 adults rating, respectively. Tentative debate ratings are a 1.7 with adults 18-49 and 4.2 million viewers.
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The CW saw its most-watched Tuesday night in nearly a year, though the premiere of Emily Owens M.D., up against the debate, did not rival recent premieres of Arrow and Beauty and the Beast. The show pulled a 0.5 rating with adults 18-49, falling from its 0.6-rated Hart of Dixie lead.
Adjusted fast national ratings for the debates will be available later in the day.
