IMO, the ratings for CSI Miami's premiere were quite acceptable, especially considering they were up against one of the top rated pro games of the season, NY and Chicago. It was disconcerting to see Undercover Boss had higher ratings than CSI M.
In half the U.S., the game was done before CSIM started. Plus, the game wasn't very competitive, so there were plenty of reasons to change channels.
In the Phoenix market, CSIM is on @ 9:00 p.m., pinning it against these heavyweight shows:
Monk (WGN)
Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
News (local channel + Fox)
American Dad (independent)
Masterpiece Theater (PBS)
Dateline NBC (NBC)
Entourage (Spike)
The Glades (A&E)
Jersey Shore (MTV)
Rubicon (AMC)
Dukes of Hazzard (CMT)
Bridezillas...do I need to go on here???
CSIM is up against a bunch of tomato cans in the ratings battle. For them to lose 3 million viewers year-over-year for a season premiere is a huge blow. TPTB can blame it on the proliferation of cable channels, the "bro-mance," the "no-mance," or whatever, but the simple fact remains that CSIM viewers are jumping off the bandwagon; and breaking their ankles doing it.
Please keep the ratings in perspective. All the major scripted shows are down from the last few years, apparently since the writers strike, which was more devastating to the industry than first realized.
The writers' strike is a red herring. It is over and done with, and if the union intentionally tried to water down the shows, their members would have been fired in a New York Minute. More likely, it is that we, the TalkCSI members, could probably write a better episode than the current lineup.