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[05/23/20 - 09:20 AM]
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: FOX, "WWE SmackDown" Top Demos
By The Futon Critic Staff (TFC)

Primetime Preliminary Fast National Nielsen Data
(includes all DVR playback through 3:00 am)

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (5/22/20):

FOX (2.039 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) was the demo champ on Friday with its weekly presentation of "WWE SmackDown" (2.039 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1).

The most-watched network was CBS (4.356 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) with its repeat lineup of "MacGyver" (4.329 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3), "Magnum P.I." (4.198 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and "Blue Bloods" (4.542 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3).

Next up was NBC (2.893 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) with encores of "World of Dance" (2.551 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and "Celebrity Escape Room" (3.064 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.710 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) likewise served up rebroadcasts of "The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II" (2.698 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) and "20/20" (2.715 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3).

And finally, The CW (0.767 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) closed out the night with a new "Masters of Illusion" (0.857 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T10) alongside repeats of "Masters of Illusion" (0.751 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T10), "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.699 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T10) and another "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.764 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #9).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - WWE SmackDown
0.00% - Masters of Illusion

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - WWE SmackDown (vs. Various)
0.00% - Masters of Illusion (vs. Dynasty)


Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/24/19):

CBS (4.461 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) was the top draw on Friday with the return of "Whistleblower" (4.009 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) followed by repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (4.330 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) and "Blue Bloods" (5.045 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2).

NBC (3.492 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) then shared in the demo honors with originals from "Blindspot" (3.012 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8) and "Dateline NBC" (3.732 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1).

Next up was ABC (2.630 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) with fresh installments of "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" (2.369 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) and "20/20" (2.761 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.707 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) served up encores of "Beat Shazam" (1.872 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) and "MasterChef Celebrity Family Showdown, Part Two" (1.541 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8).

And finally, the season finale of "Dynasty" (0.612 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.1, #12) plus repeats of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.609 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T10) and another "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.608 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T10) on The CW (0.610 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - 20/20
+25.00% - Marvel's Agents of SHIELD
0.00% - Dateline NBC
0.00% - Blindspot (vs. 4/19/19)
-50.00% - Dynasty

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - Marvel's Agents of SHIELD (vs. Quantico)
+14.29% - Blindspot (vs. Champions)
0.00% - 20/20 (vs. Shark Tank (Repeat)/20/20)
0.00% - Dateline NBC
0.00% - Whistleblower (vs. Undercover Boss)
-50.00% - Dynasty (vs. My Last Days)

In late-night metered market ratings (via NBC's press release):

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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