HDTV Ratings: June 27-28

NCIS out-rated its Los Angeles spin-off when it returned last night to TV3.

The season-eight premiere was no match for TV2’s HD opposition, Grey’s Anatomy, but drew 8.8% of 25-54 year-olds compared to 6.4% for the last episode of NCIS: LA that screened in the same slot two weeks previously.

It was a similar story with 18-49 year-olds (8.2% vs 5.6%) and household shoppers with kids (8.4% vs 7.8%) – which justified TV3’s decision to cut LA’s run short by six weeks and replace with its parent show.

While Grey’s Anatomy was well ahead in each of the demos, the numbers were still good enough to beat TV One’s Undercover Boss.

Meanwhile, NCIS lead-in Australian Federal Police appears to have lost its firepower, finishing third in its slot, but Grey sister show Private Practice is rating exceptionally well.

Last night’s episode was watched by 17.7% of HHS/kids, around 12% of 18-49 and 25-54 year olds, and 13.4% of TV2’s target audience, 18-39 year-olds, putting it only a point or two behind its sister show.

To have such a tiny audience fall-off between back-to-back dramas is rare indeed.

It was largely business as usual on Monday, with TV2’s Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters easily winning their slots, and TV One’s Criminal Minds and Castle having the edge on TV3’s CSI and Nurse Jackie.