or


[06/26/20 - 08:11 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC Originals Remain on Top
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 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (6/25/20):

ABC (3.603 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) was once again Thursday's top draw with its trio of "Holey Moley" (3.929 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1), "Don't" (3.478 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T1) and "To Tell the Truth" (3.403 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

CBS (3.431 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #2) remained the silver draw with its mix of "Young Sheldon" (4.794 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3), "The Unicorn" (3.352 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6), "Mom" (3.652 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5), the finale of "Broke" (3.560 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "SWAT" (2.613 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10).

Next up was NBC (2.306 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) with originals from "Council of Dads" (2.967 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6) and "Blindspot" (1.891 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10) plus a repeat "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.059 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T6).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.171 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) offered up new episodes of "Celebrity Watch Party" (1.403 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10) and "Labor of Love" (0.938 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13).

And finally, The CW (0.513 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) closed out the night with fresh installments from "Burden of Truth" (0.592 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T14) and "In the Dark" (0.434 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T14).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - Council of Dads
+20.00% - To Tell the Truth
+16.67% - Don't
0.00% - Holey Moley
0.00% - Blindspot
0.00% - Burden of Truth
0.00% - In the Dark
-20.00% - Broke
-25.00% - Celebrity Watch Party
-33.33% - Labor of Love

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - To Tell the Truth (vs. Reef Break)
+16.67% - Don't (vs. Family Food Fight)
-20.00% - Broke (vs. Life in Pieces)
-22.22% - Holey Moley
-50.00% - Burden of Truth (vs. iZombie)
-50.00% - In the Dark
-57.14% - Celebrity Watch Party (vs. MasterChef)
-66.67% - Labor of Love (vs. Spin the Wheel)
-77.78% - Council of Dads (vs. NBC News Democratic Candidates Debate)
-83.33% - Blindspot (vs. NBC News Democratic Candidates Debate)


Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (6/27/19):

NBC (7.327 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) got another bump on Thursday thanks to its second night of the "NBC News Democratic Candidates Debate" (8.827 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1). A repeat of "The Wall" (4.328 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) opened the night for the Peacock.

FOX (2.716 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then was the number two draw with fresh installments of "MasterChef" (2.893 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) and "Spin the Wheel" (2.538 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5).

Next up was ABC (2.925 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) and week two of "Holey Moley" (4.263 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2), "Family Food Fight" (2.525 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5) and "Reef Break" (1.985 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12).

Meanwhile, CBS (3.698 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) offered up repeats of "Young Sheldon" (4.497 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8), another "Young Sheldon" (4.305 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8) plus the penultimate "Life in Pieces" (3.770 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5), the finale to "Life in Pieces" (3.363 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8) and a new "Elementary" (3.127 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11).

And finally, The CW (0.639 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the night with a new "iZombie" (0.665 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T13) and the season finale of "In the Dark" (0.612 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T13).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - MasterChef
0.00% - Life in Pieces - 9:00
0.00% - Family Food Fight
0.00% - Life in Pieces - 9:30
0.00% - Elementary
0.00% - iZombie
0.00% - In the Dark
-10.00% - Holey Moley
-25.00% - Spin the Wheel
-40.00% - Reef Break

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+227.27% - NBC News Democratic Candidates Debate (vs. Various)
+100.00% - In the Dark (vs. Black Lightning (Repeat))
+80.00% - Holey Moley (vs. The Gong Show)
0.00% - MasterChef (vs. The Four: Battle for Stardom)
0.00% - iZombie (vs. Supernatural (Repeat))
-14.29% - Family Food Fight (vs. Match Game)
-25.00% - Spin the Wheel (vs. The Four: Battle for Stardom)
-33.33% - Elementary (vs. SWAT (Repeat))
-40.00% - Reef Break (vs. Take Two)
-53.85% - Life in Pieces - 9:00 (vs. Big Brother 20)
-61.54% - Life in Pieces - 9:30 (vs. Big Brother 20)

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

· On a night of live telecasts, "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" has outscored "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" by a margin of +37% in adults 18-49 (with a 0.52 rating vs. a 0.38), and by +32% in the key news demographic of adults 25-54 (0.78 vs. 0.59). In total viewers, Thursday results were: "Late Show," 3.060 million, "Tonight," 2.425 million.

· On the prior night, "Tonight" prevailed by margins of +13% in 18-49 (0.36 vs. 0.32 for "Late Show") and by +14% in 25-54 (0.56 vs. 0.49).

· Thursday's "Tonight Show" grew +44% versus the previous night's live telecast in 18-49 (with a 0.52 rating Thursday vs. a 0.36 on Wednesday) and +17% in total viewers (2.425 million vs. 2.066 million).

· "Late Night with Seth Meyers" increased by +20% versus the previous night's live telecast in 18-49 (0.30 vs. a 0.25) and +13% in total viewers (1.448 million vs. 1.279 million).

· It's the highest-rated and most-watched Thursday telecast of "Tonight" since Dec. 20, 2018 (with guests Felicity Jones, Jimmy Carr and musical guest Bebe Rexha, 0.53 in 18-49, 2.456 million viewers).

· For "Late Night," the 0.30 equals the show's highest Thursday rating since Feb. 7 (0.31) and the 1.448 million viewers overall is the show's best for a non-NFL Thursday since March 15, 2018.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [october 2026]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





most recent ratings | view all posts
[10/26/26 - 11:32 AM]
ESPN's NBA Opening Week Delivered Its Largest Audience Since 2014
The Philadelphia 76ers' victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers averaged 2.5 million viewers, up 26% from last year's comparable game.

[10/26/26 - 09:26 AM]
"CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton" Scores Nearly 5 Million Total Viewers on ABC and Disney+
The special ranked No. 1 in Total Viewers from 9-11 p.m. (4.74 million), leading its closest competitors in the timeslot by double digits.

[10/23/26 - 03:54 PM]
ESPN's NBA Opening Wednesday Delivered Its Second-Largest Audience Ever
The Minnesota Timberwolves' victory over the Miami Heat averaged 2.52 million viewers, up 16% from last year's comparable game.

[10/23/26 - 03:25 PM]
USA Sports Delivers Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 3 Since 1999, Best Ever on Cable
1.71 million viewers on average tuned into Wednesday night's Game 3 coverage across USA Sports' linear platforms (USA Network and CNBC) and streaming on Peacock.

[10/23/26 - 08:30 AM]
Record College Football Viewership Propels ESPN to Second Best Start Since 2011 with "College GameDay" on Track for Most-Watched Season Ever
ESPN networks are averaging 2.2 million viewers across 120 games on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU - the second-best start for ESPN since 2011.

[10/22/26 - 04:01 PM]
ABC News Wins Across Friday Night, Sunday Morning and Late-Night
"20/20: The Suitcase Murders" ranked as Friday's No. 1 newsmagazine in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/22/26 - 04:00 PM]
CBS Dominates Its Premiere Week in Seven-Day Multiplatform Viewership, Up +14% from Last Year, with Six Series Topping 10 Million Viewers
Among its broadcast competition, CBS claimed eight of the top 10 series.

[10/22/26 - 02:50 PM]
NBC Sports Delivers Most-Watched NBA Tip-Off Primetime Game Ever with 76ers-Knicks
Viewership peaked at 9.1 million - an NBA Tip-Off record - from 9:45-10:00 pm ET as the 76ers clinched the victory.

[10/22/26 - 02:00 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Waltzes to Season High During Heartfelt "Dedication Night" with 7.36 Million Total Viewers
The October 20 episode hit a season high with the show's best non-finale episode in six years.

[10/21/26 - 04:01 PM]
USA Sports' Coverage of Dream-Valkyries Game 2 Is Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 2 Ever on Cable
Monday night's coverage averaged 1.33 million viewers across USA Sports' linear platforms (USA Network, CNBC and E!).

[10/21/26 - 03:15 PM]
It's Back to School at "Abbott Elementary" as Show Returns with Over 6 Million Total Viewers
The premiere episode scored the show's best streaming performance since Season 4, based on views over seven days on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

[10/21/26 - 02:31 PM]
Commanders-49ers on "Monday Night Football" Delivers 17.9 Million Viewers
Six weeks into ESPN's Super Bowl LXI season, "Monday Night Football" is up 23% compared to the same point in 2025, averaging 19 million viewers.

[10/21/26 - 11:01 AM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of October 12
"Carrie," "Neagley," "Reacher," "Off Campus," and "Sterling Point" led all original series worldwide.

[10/21/26 - 06:39 AM]
NFL Network's London Slate Culminates with 6.4M Viewers for Jaguars-Texans
Season to date, through three games in London, NFL Network is averaging 6.9M viewers, up 15% vs. the network's six-game International Series average last season.

[10/21/26 - 06:30 AM]
NBC and Peacock Deliver Most-Watched WNBA Finals Game 1 Ever
Led by Gabby Williams' 26 points, Golden State's 68-64 win over Atlanta peaked at 3.0 million viewers for the game's exciting conclusion from 5:45 - 5:55 p.m. ET.