Simon Cowell v the BBC? Dammit, maybe we have to call it a draw
So who won in the battle of the talent shows? ITV had the most viewers, with a peak audience of 11.5 million watching Simon Cowell return to Britain's Got Talent.
Simon Cowell: back on BGT
On the BBC, new reality series The Voice, which features Tom Jones and Jessie J amongst its judges, had a peak audience of 9.8 million.
BUT . . . BBC One came out on top during the two shows' 20-minute overlap, says the BBC.
Between 8:00 and 8:20pm, The Voice was seen by 8.96 million viewers, compared to the 6.56 million watching Britain's Got Talent.
The first episode of The Voice opened with the judges performing a new version of the Black Eyed Peas' I Gotta Feeling.
"Over the last five-minute period of the overlap, those figures were 9.1 million for The Voice and 6.1 million for Britain's Got Talent," said the Beeb.
TV bosses had feared the crossover would last as long as 50 minutes, and the scheduling of both shows had been a source of tension since it emerged both channels were launching their shows on the same night.
Viewing figures in full
Britain's Got Talent
Average audience: 9.9 million
Peak audience: 11.5 million
Peak (including ITV+1): 12.2 million
Audience during overlap: 6.56 million
The Voice
Average audience: 8.4 million
Peak audience: 9.8 million
Audience during overlap: 8.96 million