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

Here are the highlights of the 11 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/31/20):

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

ABC (8.377 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1) was the top draw on Thursday with its annual telecast of "Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021 - Part 1" (7.475 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) followed by "Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021 - Part 2" (10.179 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1).

NBC (4.368 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) claimed the silver with its telecasts of "New Year's Eve: Escape from 2020" (4.347 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #4) and "NBC's New Year's Eve 2021 with Carson Daly" (4.410 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #3).

Next up was FOX (1.992 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) offering up its own presentation of "FOX's New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2021" (1.992 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5).

Meanwhile, CBS (2.659 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) opted for repeats of "Young Sheldon" (3.700 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #6), "B Positive" (2.600 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7), "Mom" (2.524 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T9), "The Unicorn" (2.199 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T9) and "FBI" (2.466 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T7).

And finally, The CW (0.477 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) served up an encore of "iHeartRadio Music Festival Night 1 2020" (0.477 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.1, #11).

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+29.17% - Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021 - Part 2 (vs. 12/31/19)
-16.67% - Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2021 - Part 1 (vs. 12/31/19)
-20.00% - New Year's Eve: Escape from 2020 (vs. 12/31/19)
-25.00% - FOX's New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2021 (vs. 12/31/19)
-28.57% - NBC's New Year's Eve 2021 with Carson Daly (vs. 12/31/19)

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/2/20):

FOX (4.919 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) was the demo champ on Thursday thanks to the return of "Last Man Standing" (5.234 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1), a second "Last Man Standing" (5.145 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1) and the debut of "Deputy" (4.648 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4).

A close second was ABC (4.966 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) with its special "What is Jeopardy!? Alex Trebek and America's Most Popular Quiz Show" (7.809 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T1) followed by the season finale of "The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition" (3.545 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5).

Next up was CBS (3.387 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #3) and its repeat lineup of "Young Sheldon" (4.579 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6), another "Young Sheldon" (4.579 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6), "Mom" (4.182 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6), "Carol's Second Act" (3.299 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9) and "Evil" (1.842 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #14).

Meanwhile, NBC (1.855 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) had its mix of a repeat "Superstore" (2.008 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T9), a second "Superstore" (1.396 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T11), the special "The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU" (1.680 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T11) plus a repeat "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.182 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T11).

And finally, The CW (0.553 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) rounded out the night with second runs of "Supernatural" (0.629 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T15) and "Legacies" (0.477 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T15).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+38.46% - What is Jeopardy!? Alex Trebek and America's Most Popular Quiz Show (vs. The Conners (Repeats))
+28.57% - Last Man Standing - 8:00 (vs. Gotham)
+28.57% - Last Man Standing - 8:30 (vs. Gotham)
+16.67% - Deputy (vs. The Orville)
-14.29% - The Great American Baking Show: Holiday Edition (vs. The Last Days of JFK Jr.)
-83.33% - The Paley Center Salutes Law & Order: SVU (vs. The Titan Games)

Source: Nielsen Media Research