or


[12/05/20 - 08:02 AM]
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: CBS Dramas Return on Top in Total Viewers
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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (12/4/20):

CBS (5.464 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) was the most-watched network on Friday thanks to the return of "MacGyver" (4.765 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2), "Magnum P.I." (5.375 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2) and "Blue Bloods" (6.251 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2).

ABC (3.535 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) shared in the demo honors with originals from "Shark Tank" (3.876 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #1) and "20/20" (3.364 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2).

Next up was FOX (2.028 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T1) with its weekly "WWE SmackDown" (2.028 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T2).

Meanwhile, NBC (2.754 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) offered up a repeat "The Voice" (2.315 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #8) and a new "Dateline NBC" (2.973 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #7).

And finally, The CW (0.588 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) wrapped the night with its two-hour special "The Hollywood Christmas Parade Greatest Moments" (0.588 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.1, #9).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - 20/20
0.00% - WWE SmackDown
0.00% - Dateline NBC (vs. 11/20/20)
-14.29% - Shark Tank (vs. 11/20/20)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - The Hollywood Christmas Parade Greatest Moments (vs. Charmed/Dynasty)
-16.67% - Blue Bloods
-16.67% - Magnum P.I.
-16.67% - MacGyver (vs. Hawaii Five-0)
-20.00% - Dateline NBC
-28.57% - WWE SmackDown
-53.85% - Shark Tank (vs. Pac-12 Football Championship Game)
-61.54% - 20/20 (vs. Pac-12 Football Championship Game)


Here are the highlights of the nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (12/6/19):

ABC (5.197 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1) got a boost on Friday thanks to its presentation of the "Pac-12 Football Championship Game" (5.197 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #1).

FOX (2.446 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) then had to settle for second with its weekly "WWE SmackDown" (2.446 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2).

Next up was CBS (6.725 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with originals from "Hawaii Five-0" (6.530 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and "Magnum P.I." (6.312 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) plus the fall finale of "Blue Bloods" (7.333 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.668 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) offered up "The Blacklist" (3.672 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6) and "Dateline NBC" (3.665 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6).

And finally, new episodes of "Charmed" (0.632 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #8) and "Dynasty" (0.373 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.1, #9) closed out the night on The CW (0.503 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - WWE SmackDown
0.00% - The Blacklist (vs. 11/22/19)
0.00% - Dateline NBC
0.00% - Charmed (vs. 11/22/19)
0.00% - Dynasty (vs. 11/22/19)
-14.29% - Blue Bloods (vs. 11/22/19)
-14.29% - Magnum P.I. (vs. 11/22/19)
-25.00% - Hawaii Five-0 (vs. 11/22/19)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+160.00% - Pac-12 Football Championship Game (vs. Various)
+11.11% - Dateline NBC (vs. Midnight, Texas/Dateline NBC)
0.00% - The Blacklist (vs. Blindspot)
0.00% - Charmed (vs. Dynasty)
0.00% - Dynasty (vs. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend)
-14.29% - Hawaii Five-0 (vs. MacGyver)
-22.22% - WWE SmackDown (vs. Various)
-25.00% - Magnum P.I. (vs. Hawaii Five-0)
-33.33% - Blue Bloods

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [august 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
[08/19/26 - 12:01 PM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of August 10
"Reacher," "Sterling Point," "Off Campus," "The Traitors," and "Elle" led all original series worldwide.

[08/19/26 - 10:02 AM]
2026 Little League Baseball Region Tournaments Deliver Largest Audience Since 2009
The Metro Region Championship matchup between Darien, Conn., and Bayonne, N.J., on August 14 averaged 1.2 million viewers, making it the third most-watched Little League Baseball Region Tournament game ever.

[08/19/26 - 09:31 AM]
For Third Week in a Row, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" Is the No. 1 Primetime Entertainment Program Among Total Viewers
Scoring a new season high among Total Viewers (4.41 million), the August 12 episode earned the show's best performance in over a year.

[08/18/26 - 03:05 PM]
ESPN Delivers Its Most-Watched WNBA Game Ever!
The Atlanta Dream-Indiana Fever matchup averaged 2.6 million viewers on Sunday, August 16.

[08/18/26 - 03:04 PM]
FOX Saturday Baseball Sizzles with Most-Watched MLB Telecast of the Week on Any Network
3,083,000 viewers tuned-in to FOX for a three-game slate highlighted by the Brewers' 4-1 win over the Dodgers in most of the country.

[08/18/26 - 02:43 PM]
FOX IndyCar Celebrates Viewership Win at Markham
913,000 viewers watched Andretti Global racer Marcus Ericsson cap a late-race run through the field to score the win at Markham Sunday on FOX.

[08/18/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of August 10 - "My Life with the Walter Boys" Lassos No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
"Conversations with a Killer: The Charles Manson Tapes" launched in the No. 2 spot on the English TV list, gathering 4.9 million views.

[08/14/26 - 01:45 PM]
ABC News Is No. 1 on Sunday Morning and Friday Night
"20/20" saw year-to-year increases in all key target demos: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49.

[08/13/26 - 03:39 PM]
ESPN Delivers Its Second Most-Watched WNBA Regular Season Game in 30 Years of Coverage!
The New York Liberty-Indiana Fever matchup averaged 2 million viewers on Tuesday, August 11.

[08/12/26 - 02:29 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Jumps to Best Audience in Three Months
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 182 consecutive weeks (more than three years) across all key measures.

[08/12/26 - 12:01 PM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of August 3
"Sterling Point," "Ride or Die," "Off Campus," "Reacher," and "Elle" led all original series worldwide.

[08/11/26 - 02:45 PM]
FOX Saturday Baseball Delivers #1 MLB Telecast of the Week on Any Network
2,223,000 viewers tuned-in to a three-game slate that featured the White Sox's 6-3 victory over the Guardians in most of the country.

[08/11/26 - 02:43 PM]
ESPN Delivers Its 2nd Most-Watched WNBA Game Ever for the Second Consecutive Week!
The Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky matchup averaged 2.6 million viewers on ABC on Saturday, August 8.

[08/11/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of August 3 - "The Last House" Invites You to Stay at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
"The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare" held the top spot on the English TV list with 10.6 million views.

[08/10/26 - 10:37 AM]
Discovery's Shark Week Delivers Best Ratings in Seven Years
Primetime telecasts averaged a 0.77 L3 rating among Adults 25-54, marking the largest year-over-year increase in 13 years and the first year of ratings growth since 2023.