or


[12/19/15 - 09:58 AM]
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: NBC, "Dateline" Top 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 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/18/15):

NBC (4.899 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1) was the top draw on Friday with its duo of "Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon" (3.406 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T7) and "Dateline NBC" (5.646 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T1).

CBS (4.759 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) then claimed the silver with its holiday mix of "Frosty the Snowman" (4.641 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3), "Frosty Returns" (4.096 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4), "Home for the Holidays" (3.286 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10) and a repeat "Blue Bloods" (6.623 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5).

Next up was FOX (2.871 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) with a new "MasterChef Junior" (3.941 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T1) and the season finale of "World's Funniest" (1.803 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.561 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up repeats of "Last Man Standing" (4.614 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T7), "Yes, Virginia" (2.627 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #12), "Shark Tank" (3.738 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5) and a new "20/20" (3.326 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T7).

And finally, encores of "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" (1.397 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13) and "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (1.343 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #14) on The CW (1.369 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+22.22% - Dateline NBC
-8.33% - MasterChef Junior
-14.29% - World's Funniest
-22.22% - 20/20

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+120.00% - MasterChef Junior (vs. MasterChef Junior (Repeat))
+50.00% - World's Funniest (vs. Hell's Kitchen (Repeat))
+20.00% - Home for the Holidays
-15.38% - Dateline NBC
-22.22% - Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon
-36.36% - 20/20

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," 3.2/8; "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," 2.0/5; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/4 with an encore.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.1/5; "Late Show," 0.4/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2 with an encore.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.4/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.5/5 in metered-market households with an encore) beat CBS's "Late Late Show" (1.0/3 with an encore). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49 with an encore) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/2 with an encore).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.


Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/19/14):

NBC (6.040 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) took home the top spots on Friday with its special "Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon" (4.663 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5) and a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (6.729 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1).

ABC (4.927 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then was a close second with repeats of "Last Man Standing" (4.944 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #6), "Cristela" (3.972 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T7) and "Shark Tank" (5.383 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1) plus a new "20/20" (4.941 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4).

Next up was CBS (5.372 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with the season finale of "The Amazing Race" (6.497 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T1), its annual special "Home for the Holidays" (3.205 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) and a repeat "Blue Bloods" (6.414 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T7).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.535 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) offered up encores of its "MasterChef Junior" (1.828 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) and "Hell's Kitchen" (1.242 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11) finales.

And finally, repeats of "Mister Magoo's Christmas Carol" (1.443 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and "Kung Fu Panda Holiday" (0.969 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) closed out the evening on The CW (1.324 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), said duo posted a 0.2 and 0.1 rating, respectively.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+18.18% - The Amazing Race
0.00% - Dateline NBC
-21.43% - 20/20

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+18.18% - Dateline NBC (vs. It's a Wonderful Life (Repeat))
-7.14% - The Amazing Race (vs. I Love Lucy Christmas Special (Repeat))
-8.33% - 20/20
-18.18% - Caught on Camera with Nick Cannon (vs. It's a Wonderful Life (Repeat))
-58.33% - Home for the Holidays (vs. Hawaii Five-0)

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," 3.1/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.4/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.9/4 with an encore.

·In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.0/4; "Late Show," 0.5/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3 with an encore.

·From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.3/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

·From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.6/5 in metered-market households with an encore) trailed CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.7/5). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49 with an encore) tied "Late Late Show" (0.5/3).

·At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [december 2015]  
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
[11/05/26 - 09:30 AM]
"Yaga" Is the #1 Exclusive Series Launch in the History of AMC+
The series also charted as the #1 social drama across all U.S. TV and streaming on its premiere day.

[11/04/26 - 03:37 PM]
Bears-Seahawks Draws 16.4M Viewers, Becomes Most-Watched ESPN-Only "Monday Night Football" Game Since 2019
Bears-Seahawks is also "Monday Night Football's" third most-watched Week 8 game of the ESPN era (2006-present).

[11/04/26 - 12:31 PM]
"Saturday Night Live" Hits Season High with Host Inde Navarrette and Musical Guest Gracie Abrams
It was also the top Peacock performance of the season and best since March 14, 2026, with host and musical guest Harry Styles.

[11/04/26 - 11:01 AM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of October 26
"The Terminal List," "Carrie," "Reacher," "Neagley," and "Helluva Boss" led all original series worldwide.

[11/03/26 - 03:01 PM]
USA Sports Delivers Most-Watched WNBA Playoff Game Ever; 3.3 Million Viewers Watch Valkyries Win Title in First-Ever Game 7
Viewership was up 128% vs. the 2025 WNBA Finals deciding game (LV-PHX Game 4).

[11/03/26 - 02:42 PM]
"College GameDay" Continues Historic Run Over Halloween at IU, ABC Takes Top Spot and Delivers Three of Top Five Most-Watched Games
ESPN topped all networks in Week 9, with ABC delivering three of the week's five most-watched games and winning the noon and afternoon windows.

[11/03/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of October 26 - "Lupin" Part 4 Captures the No. 1 Spot in This Week's Top 10
"The One About Matthew Perry" debuted in the No. 1 spot on the English TV list, gathering 9.5 million views.

[11/03/26 - 11:01 AM]
CBS Up +12% from Its Week #2 Last Year - Network Places 14 of the Top 20 Series; Top Two Comedies; Top Three New Series
CBS episodes topped the Nielsen live plus 7-days of multiplatform viewership for the week of October 12-18.

[10/31/26 - 10:48 AM]
USA Sports Delivers 1.5 Million Viewers for Valkyries-Dream Game 6 Thursday Matinee
USA Sports' Game 6 coverage delivered the fifth most-watched WNBA Finals game on cable on record.

[10/30/26 - 08:57 AM]
ABC News Wins Across Friday Night, Sunday Morning and Late-Night
"20/20: Help Dale Find Dee" ranked as Friday's No. 1 newsmagazine in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/29/26 - 03:25 PM]
Champions at Last: 14.2 Million Viewers Projected for FOX Sports' Coverage of Milwaukee Brewers World Series Clinch
13,476,000 viewers tuned in for World Series Game 4 presented by Capital One across FOX and FOX Deportes.

[10/29/26 - 12:21 PM]
ABC Thursday Returns Strong with "9-1-1" and "9-1-1: Nashville" Rising Over Previous Season Averages
The Season 10 debut of "9-1-1" (8 p.m.) earned 8.14 million Total Viewers after seven days of viewing on ABC, Hulu, Hulu on Disney+ and digital platforms, based on Nielsen's competitive multiplatform measurement.

[10/28/26 - 03:31 PM]
Cowboys-Eagles on "Monday Night Football" Delivers 18.8M Viewers
Seven weeks into ESPN's Super Bowl LXI season, "Monday Night Football" is up 26% compared to the same point in 2025, averaging 19M viewers.

[10/28/26 - 11:30 AM]
"The Drew Barrymore Show" Hits All-Time Series High
This season to date, "The Drew Barrymore Show" averaged 1.90 million total viewers, up +36% year over year.

[10/28/26 - 11:01 AM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of October 19
"The Terminal List," "Carrie," "Reacher," "Neagley," and "Off Campus" led all original series worldwide.