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 (9/21/20):

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

ABC (6.851 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1) opened the 2020-21 season on top thanks to its special simulcast of ESPN's "Monday Night Football" (6.851 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #1).

FOX (2.876 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #2) was a distant second with its network premiere of "LA's Finest" (2.881 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) followed by the debut of "Filthy Rich" (2.871 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

Next up was NBC (3.244 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) with fresh installments from "American Ninja Warrior" (3.375 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) and "Dateline NBC" (2.982 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T5).

Meanwhile, CBS (2.094 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T3) served up repeats of "The Neighborhood" (3.116 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) and "Young Sheldon" (2.705 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7) alongside a new "Love Island" (1.801 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) and the network bow of "Manhunt: Deadly Games" (1.570 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7).

And finally, The CW (0.724 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) opted for repeats of "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.822 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T10), another "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.749 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T10) and "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (0.662 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.1, #12).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - Love Island
0.00% - American Ninja Warrior
0.00% - Dateline NBC

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+77.78% - Monday Night Football (vs. Dancing with the Stars/The Good Doctor)
-28.57% - Love Island (vs. All Rise)
-50.00% - Dateline NBC (vs. Bluff City Law)
-57.14% - Manhunt: Deadly Games (vs. Bull)
-60.00% - Filthy Rich (vs. Prodigal Son)
-66.67% - LA's Finest (vs. 9-1-1)
-70.59% - American Ninja Warrior (vs. The Voice)

Here are the highlights of the 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/23/19):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: ABC's ratings are subject to downward adjustment due to NFL coverage in the Washington, D.C. market.]

NBC (7.466 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) kicked off the 2019-20 season on top with the season premiere of "The Voice" (8.836 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1) followed by the launch of "Bluff City Law" (4.727 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6).

FOX (5.568 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then was a close second among adults 18-49 with the return of "9-1-1" (6.956 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.5, #2) and the debut of "Prodigal Son" (4.180 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3).

Next up was ABC (6.620 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #3) with week two of "Dancing with the Stars" (6.626 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6) followed by the season opener to "The Good Doctor" (6.608 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3).

Meanwhile, CBS (6.037 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) offered up its debut lineup of "The Neighborhood" (5.729 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5), "Bob (Hearts) Abishola" (5.876 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6), "All Rise" (6.006 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T9) and "Bull" (6.303 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T9).

And finally, new episodes of "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (0.905 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T11) and "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.687 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T11) plus a repeat "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.706 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T11) rounded out the night on The CW (0.801 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Penn & Teller: Fool Us (vs. 9/9/19)
0.00% - Whose Line Is It Anyway? (vs. 9/9/19)
-20.00% - Dancing with the Stars

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+36.36% - 9-1-1 (vs. The Resident)
0.00% - Penn & Teller: Fool Us
0.00% - Whose Line Is It Anyway?
-15.00% - The Voice
-22.22% - Bull
-27.27% - Dancing with the Stars
-28.57% - The Good Doctor
-37.50% - Prodigal Son (vs. 9-1-1)
-41.67% - All Rise (vs. Magnum P.I.)
-52.94% - Bob (Hearts) Abishola (vs. Young Sheldon)
-62.50% - The Neighborhood (vs. The Big Bang Theory)
-63.64% - Bluff City Law (vs. Manifest)

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," 1.5/4; "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," 2.6/8; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.8/5.

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

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline," averaged a 1.1/4 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," 1.2/5. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, averages were: "Late Night," 0.3/3 in 18-49; "Late Late Show," 0.2/2.

Source: Nielsen Media Research