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 (8/19/16):

NBC (16.935 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.5, #1) was the network to beat on Friday with its coverage of the "Olympic Games Rio 2016" (18.141 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 4.8, #1) followed by a special "Superstore" (10.903 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.3, #2).

CBS (4.810 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then was the number two draw with a special "Big Brother 18" (5.365 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #3) and repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (4.132 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4) and "Blue Bloods" (4.934 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4).

Next up was ABC (3.224 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) and its trio of "Shark Tank" (3.066 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8), "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (2.989 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6) and "20/20" (3.619 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.559 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) offered up a repeat "MasterChef" (1.559 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #9).

And finally, The CW (0.770 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the evening with repeats of "Masters of Illusion" (0.979 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T10), another "Masters of Illusion" (0.880 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T10) and the conclusion to "My Last Days" (0.611 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T10).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Big Brother 18 (vs. 7/22/16)
-22.22% - 20/20

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+150.00% - Big Brother 18 (vs. Elementary (Repeat))
0.00% - 20/20
-50.00% - My Last Days (vs. Penn & Teller: Fool Us (Repeat))

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

Late-night metered market ratings will return following the Olympics.

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/21/15):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to significant local NFL pre-season preemptions, all Fast Nationals are inflated.]

NBC (4.049 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) was the demo champ on Friday with an encore of "America's Got Talent" (3.710 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) plus a new "Dateline NBC" (4.728 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1).

CBS (4.976 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) then was the most-watched network with repeats of "Elementary" (4.288 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7), "Hawaii Five-0" (5.034 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4) and "Blue Bloods" (5.607 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4).

Next up was ABC (3.045 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) and its trio of "We Day" (2.105 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9), "Shark Tank" (3.189 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7) and "20/20" (3.842 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T4).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.932 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T2) offered up encores of "MasterChef" (2.470 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T2) and "Gotham" (1.395 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9).

And finally, a new "Masters of Illusion" (1.677 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) and repats of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1.378 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) and "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (1.464 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) closed out the evening over on The CW (1.496 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5). In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), said trio posted a 0.3, 0.3 and 0.2 rating, respectively.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Dateline NBC
-30.00% - 20/20
-33.33% - Masters of Illusion

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-9.09% - Dateline NBC
-12.50% - 20/20
-20.00% - Masters of Illusion
-50.00% - We Day (vs. Last Man Standing (Repeats))

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

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research