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 (10/7/20):

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

ABC (6.810 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) claimed top honors on Wednesday with its telecasts of "Pence vs Harris: The Vice Presidential Debate - A Special Edition of 20/20" (4.892 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5) and "The Vice Presidential Debate - Your Voice Your Vote 2020" (7.769 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #1).

FOX (4.639 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) was a close second with a new "The Masked Singer" (5.720 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) and "Democracy 2020: Vice Presidential Debate" (3.918 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4).

Next up was NBC (5.004 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with a special "Weakest Link" (4.461 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #8) alongside "NBC News: Vice Presidential Debate" (5.276 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.2, #3).

Meanwhile, CBS (4.301 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) served up a new "Big Brother 22" (4.216 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5) and "CBS News: The Vice Presidential Debate" (4.344 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T5).

And finally, the premiere of "Devils" (0.626 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T9) and the return of "Coroner" (0.717 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T9) rounded out the night on The CW (0.672 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Coroner (vs. 9/23/20)
-10.00% - Big Brother 22
-17.65% - The Masked Singer

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+61.90% - The Vice Presidential Debate - Your Voice Your Vote 2020 (vs. 10/4/16)
+42.86% - Democracy 2020: Vice Presidential Debate (vs. 10/4/16)
+5.88% - Pence vs Harris: The Vice Presidential Debate - A Special Edition of 20/20 (vs. The Goldbergs/Schooled)
-5.26% - CBS News: The Vice Presidential Debate (vs. 10/4/16)
-18.18% - Big Brother 22 (vs. Survivor: Island of the Idols)
-27.27% - Weakest Link (vs. Chicago Med)
-30.00% - The Masked Singer
-32.58% - NBC News: Vice Presidential Debate (vs. 10/4/16)
-66.67% - Coroner (vs. Nancy Drew)
-75.00% - Devils (vs. Riverdale)

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/9/19):

FOX (4.759 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) held onto the demo crown on Wednesday with originals from "The Masked Singer" (6.923 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) and "Almost Family" (2.595 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #8).

NBC (7.131 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then remained in second with its trio of "Chicago Med" (7.353 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3), "Chicago Fire" (7.628 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) and "Chicago PD" (6.412 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5).

Next up was CBS (4.992 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) with fresh installments of "Survivor: Island of the Idols" (6.470 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3), "SEAL Team" (4.781 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T9) and "SWAT" (3.724 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #13).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.558 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) offered up new episodes of "The Goldbergs" (4.508 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5), "Schooled" (3.352 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T9), "Modern Family" (3.967 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #7), "Single Parents" (2.721 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T9) and "Stumptown" (3.400 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #12).

And finally, The CW (1.177 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night with the return of "Riverdale" (1.179 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) and the debut of "Nancy Drew" (1.174 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #15).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+10.00% - Chicago Med
+9.09% - Chicago Fire
+5.26% - The Masked Singer
0.00% - Chicago PD
0.00% - The Goldbergs
0.00% - Almost Family
0.00% - SEAL Team
-8.33% - Survivor: Island of the Idols
-12.50% - Schooled
-12.50% - Single Parents
-14.29% - Stumptown
-16.67% - SWAT
-18.18% - Modern Family

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Nancy Drew (vs. All American)
+33.33% - The Masked Singer (vs. Empire)
-7.69% - Chicago Fire
-15.38% - Chicago Med
-16.67% - Chicago PD
-20.00% - Riverdale
-22.22% - SEAL Team
-23.08% - The Goldbergs
-25.00% - Stumptown (vs. A Million Little Things)
-26.67% - Survivor: Island of the Idols
-30.00% - Schooled (vs. American Housewife)
-30.00% - Single Parents
-35.71% - Modern Family
-37.50% - SWAT (vs. Criminal Minds)
-38.46% - Almost Family (vs. Star)

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

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research