or


[08/14/20 - 08:11 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC Holds Off Competition in Viewers, 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 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (8/13/20):

[Note: Fast affiliate ratings are inaccurate for live sports.]

ABC (2.961 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) held off the competition on Thursday with its mix of "Holey Moley" (3.349 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2), the season finale of "Don't" (2.490 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) and "To Tell the Truth" (3.044 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2).

CBS (2.806 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) was a close second thanks to a new "Big Brother 22" (4.060 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1) alongside repeats of "Young Sheldon" (2.582 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5), "The Unicorn" (1.961 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "Bull" (2.087 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8).

Next up was FOX (1.668 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) with its latest installment of "MLB on FOX" (1.668 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.070 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) served up its "NBC News Special: Coronavirus & The Classroom" (2.607 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5) alongside repeats of "Ellen's Game of Games" (1.708 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (1.896 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8).

And finally, the season finale of "Killer Camp" (0.480 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T12) and a repeat "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (0.515 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T12) rounded out the night on The CW (0.497 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Holey Moley
0.00% - To Tell the Truth
0.00% - Don't
0.00% - MLB on FOX
0.00% - Killer Camp

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - To Tell the Truth (vs. Reef Break)
+66.67% - Don't (vs. Family Food Fight)
+66.67% - Big Brother 22 (vs. The Big Bang Theory/Young Sheldon (Repeats))
+20.00% - Holey Moley
-42.86% - MLB on FOX (vs. MasterChef/Spin the Wheel)
-50.00% - Killer Camp (vs. The Outpost)
-50.00% - NBC News Special: Coronavirus & The Classroom (vs. The Wall (Repeat))


Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/15/19):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Some high rated local pre-season NFL games (across all networks) are included here but will be excluded from Officials.]

NBC (3.736 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was the top adults 18-49 draw on another NFL-fueled Thursday with its lineup of "The Wall" (4.159 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2), "Ellen's Game of Games" (3.901 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.149 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5).

CBS (3.865 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) then was a close second with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (4.150 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5), "Young Sheldon" (3.990 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5), "Big Brother 21" (4.401 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) and the series finale of "Elementary" (3.123 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #10).

Sharing the silver was FOX (3.021 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) with originals from "MasterChef" (3.450 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) and "Spin the Wheel" (2.593 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T5).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.312 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) offered up a new "Holey Moley" (2.877 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #9), the season finale of "Family Food Fight" (1.982 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T11) and a new "Reef Break" (2.078 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T11).

And finally, The CW (0.804 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the evening with "The Outpost" (0.898 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T13), "Two Sentence Horror Stories" (0.708 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T13) and another "Two Sentence Horror Stories" (0.713 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T13).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - The Outpost
-15.38% - Big Brother 21
-33.33% - MasterChef
-33.33% - Elementary
-33.33% - Two Sentence Horror Stories - 9:00
-33.33% - Two Sentence Horror Stories - 9:30
-40.00% - Spin the Wheel
-54.55% - Holey Moley
-57.14% - Reef Break
-66.67% - Family Food Fight

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+166.67% - MasterChef (vs. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series)
+100.00% - Spin the Wheel (vs. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series)
0.00% - The Outpost (vs. Supernatural (Repeat))
0.00% - Two Sentence Horror Stories - 9:00 (vs. Black Lightning (Repeat))
0.00% - Two Sentence Horror Stories - 9:30 (vs. Black Lightning (Repeat))
-37.50% - Holey Moley (vs. 20/20: Aretha: Soul, Song, R E S P E C T)
-38.89% - Big Brother 21
-42.86% - Elementary (vs. SWAT (Repeat))
-50.00% - Reef Break (vs. Take Two)
-62.50% - Family Food Fight (vs. Match Game)

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

· In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.6/5; "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," 2.1/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.3/4.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 0.3/3; "Late Show," 0.4/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.3/2.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline," averaged a 0.9/3 in metered-market households and a 0.2/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, ratings were: "Late Night with Seth Meyers," 1.0/4 in metered-market households; CBS's "Late Late Show," 1.0/4. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, averages were: "Late Night," 0.2/2 in 18-49; "Late Late Show," 0.2/2.

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.6/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.1/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [december 2025]  
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
[12/11/25 - 03:15 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in All Key Target Demos
The series also saw gains on the same week last year in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[12/10/25 - 02:59 PM]
FOX NFL Scores Massive Week 14 Viewership
28 million viewers watched FOX Sports' Week 14 "America's Game of the Week," featuring the Green Bay Packers divisional win over the Chicago Bears.

[12/10/25 - 12:08 PM]
NBCU's November to Remember Showcases the Power of Company's Programming
"All Her Fault" became the most-watched original series launch in Peacock history with 46 million hours.

[12/10/25 - 09:54 AM]
ABC Unwraps Holiday Presentations of Fan Favorite Shows
"Dancing with the Holidays" was the top-performing holiday-themed special across the broadcast networks among Adults 18-49 in two years.

[12/09/25 - 04:11 PM]
"College GameDay" Delivers Second Most-Watched Conference Championship Episode Ever; ABC/ESPN Score Second Most-Watched Conference Championship Week Since 2014
The SEC Championship delivered 16.9 million viewers on Saturday, December 6.

[12/09/25 - 02:03 PM]
18.3 Million Viewers Tuned in for Big Ten Championship Game on FOX
Indiana's win peaked with 19,993,000 viewers from 11:00-11:15 PM ET.

[12/08/25 - 11:30 AM]
College Football on The CW Network Sees Double Digit Year-Over-Year Viewership Gains for 2025 Season
ACC football experienced the largest year-over-year growth, up 26% in total audience compared to 2024.

[12/05/25 - 03:31 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 in Total Viewers
"Nightline" improved on the previous week in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, hitting nine-week highs in both measures.

[12/05/25 - 02:05 PM]
ESPN Networks Deliver Best College Football Regular Season Since 2011; "College GameDay Built by The Home Depot" Scores Most-Watched Season Ever
ESPN networks aired the most-watched game in 34 of 42 key Saturday windows, including seven of 14 noon windows, 13 of 14 late afternoon windows and all 14 prime windows.

[12/05/25 - 12:35 PM]
2025 CFB Viewership Surges on FOX & FS1
The 2025 regular season wrapped with big numbers for "Big Noon Saturday," "Big Noon Kickoff" and more - including year-over-year gains across the board.

[12/05/25 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Premiere Week Episodes Post Gains and Lead In Live Plus 35-Day Multiplatform Viewership
"Tracker" delivered 17.3 million viewers, up +6% versus its year-ago premiere.

[12/05/25 - 08:45 AM]
ESPN Delivered Most-Watched Women's College Volleyball Season on Record
Said coverage averaged 190,000 viewers, up 36% from the 2024 season.

[12/04/25 - 04:19 PM]
"College GameDay Built By The Home Depot" Delivers Second-Best Regular Season Episode Ever; ESPN Scores Best Rivalry Week Since 2012
The Lone Star Showdown drew over 13 million viewers, peaking with 14.3 million viewers.

[12/04/25 - 03:45 PM]
"Big Noon Kickoff" Scores 4.36 Million Viewers on FOX
The 2025 season was "Big Noon Kickoff's" most-watched season in history.

[12/04/25 - 02:41 PM]
18.4M Viewers Tuned in for Ohio State-Michigan on FOX
Ohio State's win over Michigan scored 18,424,000 viewers on FOX.