or


[10/01/20 - 08:20 AM]
Wednesday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC Tops Demos with NBA Finals
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 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (9/30/20):

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

ABC (4.781 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) pulled into the top demo spot on Wednesday thanks to "Jimmy Kimmel: Game Night" (4.159 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3), "NBA Countdown" (3.303 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5) and "NBA Finals, Game 1" (5.306 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1).

FOX (5.429 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #2) had to settle for the silver with its duo of "The Masked Singer" (6.478 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.7, #2) and "I Can See Your Voice" (4.380 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3).

Next up was CBS (2.748 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) and its mix of "Big Brother 22" (4.211 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5), the season finale of "Love Island" (2.018 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #7) and "48 Hours Suspicion" (2.013 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.134 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) opted for repeats of "Ellen's Game of Games" (2.443 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8), another "Ellen's Game of Games" (2.079 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T8) and "Weakest Link" (1.879 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T10).

And finally, the series finale of "The 100" (0.629 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) and a repeat "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (0.498 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.1, #13) rounded out the night on The CW (0.563 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - The 100
+21.43% - The Masked Singer
0.00% - I Can See Your Voice
-9.09% - Big Brother 22
-16.67% - Love Island
-25.00% - 48 Hours Suspicion

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+37.50% - I Can See Your Voice (vs. Almost Family)
0.00% - The 100 (vs. iHeartRadio Music Festival Night 1)
-10.53% - The Masked Singer
-16.67% - Big Brother 22 (vs. Survivor: Island of the Idols)
-28.57% - Love Island (vs. SEAL Team)
-46.15% - NBA Finals, Game 1 (vs. 5/30/19)
-47.62% - Jimmy Kimmel: Game Night (vs. 5/30/19)
-50.00% - 48 Hours Suspicion (vs. SWAT)
-54.55% - NBA Countdown (vs. 5/30/19)


Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (10/2/19):

FOX (4.852 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) was still the network to beat among adults 18-49 on Wednesday with week two of "The Masked Singer" (6.753 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) and the premiere of "Almost Family" (2.951 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8).

NBC (7.040 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then was the silver draw with its trio of "Chicago Med" (7.553 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5), "Chicago Fire" (7.570 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3) and "Chicago PD" (5.996 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5).

Next up was CBS (5.267 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) with a new "Survivor: Island of the Idols" (6.503 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #2) followed by the season premieres of "SEAL Team" (5.227 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T11) and "SWAT" (4.071 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #13).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.803 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T3) offered up originals from "The Goldbergs" (4.305 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5), "Schooled" (3.385 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8), "Modern Family" (4.301 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T3), "Single Parents" (2.922 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8) and "Stumptown" (3.954 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T11).

And finally, The CW (0.886 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the evening with its annual special "iHeartRadio Music Festival Night 1" (0.886 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.2, #14).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+14.29% - Single Parents
+10.00% - Modern Family
0.00% - Survivor: Island of the Idols
0.00% - Chicago Fire
0.00% - Chicago Med
0.00% - The Goldbergs
0.00% - Schooled
0.00% - Stumptown
-9.09% - Chicago PD
-24.00% - The Masked Singer

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - iHeartRadio Music Festival Night 1 (vs. Burden of Truth/Supergirl (Repeat))
+26.67% - The Masked Singer (vs. Empire)
-12.50% - Stumptown (vs. A Million Little Things)
-12.50% - SEAL Team
-14.29% - SWAT (vs. Criminal Minds)
-15.38% - Chicago Fire (vs. Chicago Med)
-16.67% - Chicago PD
-20.00% - Survivor: Island of the Idols
-21.43% - Modern Family
-23.08% - Chicago Med (vs. Chicago Fire)
-23.08% - The Goldbergs
-27.27% - Single Parents
-27.27% - Schooled (vs. American Housewife)
-33.33% - Almost Family (vs. Star)

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," 1.7/5; "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," 2.4/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5.

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

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline," averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.2/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, ratings were: "Late Night with Seth Meyers," 1.1/4 in metered-market households; CBS's "Late Late Show," 1.0/4. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, averages were: "Late Night," 0.2/2 in 18-49; "Late Late Show," 0.2/2.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [june 2026]  
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
[06/03/26 - 11:01 AM]
"Saturday Night Live" Season 51 Was #1 Among All Broadcast Comedy Series in the 18-49 Demo and #2 Among All Entertainment Series
The most-watched telecast of the season across all platforms was 10.1 million viewers on December 20 with host Ariana Grande and musical guest Cher.

[06/03/26 - 07:00 AM]
Fans Power UFL on ESPN to Significant Viewership Growth Across 10-Week Regular Season
ABC alone accounted for eight of the top 10 most-watched games.

[06/03/26 - 06:00 AM]
TNT Sports Caps Its Most Watched NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs with Its Most Watched Conference Final Ever
The record-setting series helped propel TNT Sports' overall coverage of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs to an average of 1.4 million viewers across TNT, TBS, truTV and HBO Max, up 50% from 2025 through the Conference Final.

[06/02/26 - 04:06 PM]
NBC and Peacock Deliver Most-Watched Conference Finals Game Since 2016 with 15.9 Million Viewers for Spurs-Thunder Game 7 on Saturday Night
Across 28 playoff games, NBC Sports' presentation of the 2026 NBA Playoffs averaged 7.2 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, up 72% versus comparable coverage last season.

[06/02/26 - 02:36 PM]
ESPN's WCWS Viewership Success Continues
Texas Tech-UCLA averaged 2.0 million viewers, with a peak of 2.6 million.

[06/02/26 - 02:13 PM]
FOX IndyCar Continues Ratings Growth with Strong Detroit Performance
Through eight races, IndyCar on FOX is averaging 2,241,000 viewers, up +12% from 2025 (2,007,000).

[06/02/26 - 02:00 PM]
FOX MLB's "Baseball Night in America" Delivers Most-Watched Baseball Telecast of the Week
2,322,000 viewers tuned-in to FOX for a two-game slate highlighted by the Cubs' 6-1 victory over the Cardinals in most of the country.

[06/02/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of May 25 - "The Boroughs" Makes Itself at Home at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
Plus: "Nemesis" stole away with the No. 2 spot on the list, commanding 5.9 million views.

[06/01/26 - 11:04 AM]
ESPN Scored Most-Watched NCAA Women's College World Series Opening Thursday on Record
Arkansas-Nebraska averaged 1.4 million viewers, with a peak of 1.6 million.

[06/01/26 - 08:27 AM]
ESPN Scores Most-Viewed Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference Final Since 2015, The Latest Viewership Successes Headed Into the Stanley Cup Final
Across four games on ESPN, the series averaged 2.2 million viewers and was up 44% vs. the Western Conference Final last year (Edmonton vs. Dallas) which went five games on ESPN.

[05/29/26 - 03:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's No. 1 Newsmagazine, Leading "Dateline" in Total Viewers for the 5th Consecutive Broadcast Season
"20/20" improved on the previous season in Total Viewers (+5%/+170,000 - 3.672 million vs. 3.502 million).

[05/29/26 - 03:01 PM]
ABC News Is #1 in Total Viewers Sunday Morning and in Late-Night
"Nightline" posted double-digit gains week to week in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[05/28/26 - 03:23 PM]
2026 NBA Eastern Conference Finals Presented by Dunkin' Finishes Strong with Average Audience of 7.4 Million Viewers Across ESPN and ABC
Additionally, Game 4 on ESPN averaged 7.2 million viewers, marking the most-viewed Eastern Conference Finals Game 4 across any network since 2018.

[05/28/26 - 11:00 AM]
CBS Outpaces Competitors with Eight of the Top 25 Series Across All Streaming and Broadcast Originals in Nielsen's All-Series Ranker
CBS has the most top 25 series of any streaming or broadcast competitor and twice as many as its closest broadcast competitor, including six series with 10+ million viewers.

[05/28/26 - 10:31 AM]
FOX Delivers Most-Watched UFL Game Since League Started in 2024
1,593,000 viewers watched as Louisville defeated Dallas 37-23 on Sunday.