"Heroes" beats "24" in first head-to-head Monday night

[underpants]

I don't watch either show but I thought all the Heroes fans out there would get a kick out of this.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/entertainment/4492591.html

Confounding oddsmakers but delighting the networks, NBC's Heroes won Round 1 of a ratings showdown between network heavyweights, edging past Fox's 24 to draw the largest audience, ages 18-49, during the 8 p.m. hour Monday.

According to overnight 18-49 ratings, Heroes finished first with a 6.5 rating, followed by 24's 5.4. The CBS combo of Two and a Half Men and The New Adventures of Old Christine was third with a 4.5.

In total viewers, the contest was much closer, with NBC grabbing 14.8 million viewers for the hour, CBS getting 14.6 million and Fox taking 14.4 million.

The outcome verified what the networks were hoping for: that the confrontation between networks would bring more viewers to television. Television usage was up significantly for the night. Fox's Scott Grogan said 18-49 viewership was up 16 percent over a year ago, 18.7 percent vs. 16.7 percent. Total viewers were both up 10 percent over a year ago, said NBC's Tom Bierbaum, 49.8 million vs. 45.4 million.

[Reverend_Smitty]

1. I should send this to my 24 watching friend...

who made fun of me the other day for watching Heroes...clearly I'm not the only nerd out there

[AlCzervik]

2. no you aren't.

i really enjoy Heros and i look forward to each new episode and then my sister and i talk about it every tuesday morning on the phone.

[Ravenseye]

3. I watch both

two tuner DVR. Records both simultaneously. I watched Heroes yesterday and watched the first half of 24 today, will finish the rest later.

Mua Ha Ha. Maybe viewship overall isn't up. Maybe more people are watching both thanks to modern technology.

[MissMillie]

4. Not to degrade either show

but given that Brittney Spears sells millions every time she makes a CD, I rarely use public opinion to determine how good any given entertainment product is.