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[08/15/20 - 08:55 AM]
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: FOX Keeps Demo Crown; CBS Tops Total Viewers
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 (8/14/20):

FOX (1.978 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1) led the demo race on Friday thanks to "WWE SmackDown" (1.978 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1).

CBS (3.585 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) was the most-watched broadcaster with the season finale of "The Greatest #AtHome Videos" (3.913 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) alongside repeats of "Magnum P.I." (3.138 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6) and "Blue Bloods" (3.704 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6).

Next up was NBC (2.709 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) with encores of "The Wall" (2.292 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T6) and "Dateline NBC" (2.917 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.600 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) also offered up second runs of "Shark Tank" (2.714 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) and "20/20" (2.543 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

And finally, The CW (0.332 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) closed out the night with repeats of "Masters of Illusion" (0.449 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T9), another "Masters of Illusion" (0.459 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T9), a new "Being Rueben" (0.214 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.0, #T11) and a second "Being Rueben" (0.206 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.0, #T11).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Being Rueben - 9:00
0.00% - Being Rueben - 9:30
0.00% - WWE SmackDown
0.00% - The Greatest #AtHome Videos

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+66.67% - WWE SmackDown (vs. Various)
+33.33% - The Greatest #AtHome Videos (vs. Hawaii Five-0 (Repeat))
-100.00% - Being Rueben - 9:00 (vs. Hypnotize Me (Repeat))
-100.00% - Being Rueben - 9:30 (vs. Hypnotize Me (Repeat))


Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/16/19):

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

NBC (3.054 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) was the demo champ on a repeat heavy Friday with its duo of "American Ninja Warrior" (3.025 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) and "Dateline NBC" (3.111 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2).

CBS (3.424 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) then was the most-watched network with its trio of "Hawaii Five-0" (3.265 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8), "Magnum P.I." (3.252 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8) and "Blue Bloods" (3.755 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

Next up was ABC (2.594 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) and its mix of "American Housewife" (2.542 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4), "Fresh Off the Boat" (1.999 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8), "What Would You Do?" (2.774 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) and "20/20" (2.737 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.362 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) served up encores of "BH90210" (1.426 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T4) and "MasterChef" (1.297 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8).

And finally, repeats of "Masters of Illusion" (1.316 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T8), "The Big Stage" (1.198 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T13) and "Hypnotize Me" (1.104 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T13) rounded out the night on The CW (1.180 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - What Would You Do?

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-16.67% - What Would You Do?

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

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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