'Got Talent' delivers biggest audience since 'Idol'

UPDATE: From Anthony Crupi, Mediaweek: Fox’ telecast of the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game delivered an average audience of 14.6 million viewers, making it the most-watched midsummer classic since 2002. Tuesday night’s contest now stands as the sixth most-watched sporting event of 2009, trailing Super Bowl XLIII, which drew a record 98.7 million viewers to NBC on Feb. 1; the NCAA National Championship Game (17.6 million); the Kentucky Derby (16.3 million); Game 4 of the NBA Finals and the Daytona 500 (both drew 16 million).

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Despite facing heavier competition this week, NBC's "America's Got Talent" delivered TV's biggest non-sports audience since the "American Idol" finale.

"Got Talent" (13.2 million, 3.6 preliminary adults 18-49 rating) surged 20% from last week to win the night among entertainment programming, even as Fox's presentation of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and CBS' "Big Brother" increased the stakes.

Fox won the night with the annual game, drawing at least 12.6 million viewers and a 4.0 rating -- both will likely climb once the network gets time-zone-adjusted numbers. NBC was second with "Got Talent" and repeats. CBS placed third with repeats and the time-period-debut of "Big Brother" (6.3 million, 2.0). ABC was fourth with "Superstars" (3.4 million, 1.2), "Better Off Ted" (2.6 million, 1.0) and "Primetime: Family Secrets" (6.1 million, 1.8).