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

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (7/15/15):

ABC (7.711 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with its presentation of "The 2015 ESPY Awards" (7.711 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #1).

CBS (5.120 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2) then claimed the silver with its trio of "Big Brother 17" (5.968 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2), "Criminal Minds" (4.830 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6) and "Extant" (4.562 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8).

Next up was NBC (4.513 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2) and encores of "America's Got Talent" (5.790 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4) and "American Ninja Warrior" (3.875 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5).

Meanwhile, FOX (3.665 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2) served up a new "MasterChef" (4.705 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) and the season finale of "Bullseye" (2.626 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6).

And finally, repeats of "Arrow" (1.140 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #9) and "Supernatural" (0.851 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #10) on The CW (0.995 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the former delivered a 0.2 rating while the latter posted a 0.1 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Big Brother 17
-11.11% - Bullseye
-17.65% - MasterChef
-25.00% - Extant

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+144.44% - The 2015 ESPY Awards (vs. Various)
+40.00% - MasterChef (vs. So You Think You Can Dance)
-5.00% - Big Brother 17
-20.00% - Bullseye (vs. So You Think You Can Dance)
-45.45% - Extant (vs. Criminal Minds (Repeat))

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

TBA

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/16/14):

CBS (6.539 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday thanks to a new "Big Brother 16" (6.261 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1), week two of "Extant" (7.866 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) and a repeat of "Criminal Minds" (5.491 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4).

NBC (5.547 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then took home the silver with an encore of "America's Got Talent" (5.918 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and a new "Taxi Brooklyn" (4.805 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8).

Next up was FOX (3.632 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3) and its summer mainstay "So You Think You Can Dance" (3.632 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T6).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.532 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) served up repeats of "The Middle" (3.862 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8), "The Goldbergs" (3.590 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8), "Modern Family" (3.695 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4), another "The Middle" (3.193 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T6) and a new "Motive" (3.426 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #11).

And finally, repeats of "Arrow" (0.971 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and "The 100" (0.476 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) on The CW (0.724 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the former delivered a 0.2 rating while the latter posted a 0.1 rating.

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

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research