or


[01/07/16 - 08:56 AM]
Wednesday's Broadcast Ratings: "American Idol" Returns on Top for FOX
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 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (1/6/16):

FOX (10.850 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.9, #1) claimed the top spot on Wednesday with the return of "American Idol" (10.685 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.8, #2) and a second hour of "American Idol" (11.016 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #1).

ABC (6.422 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) then took home the silver with originals from "The Middle" (7.835 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4), "The Goldbergs" (6.587 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4), "Modern Family" (8.324 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.7, #3) and "Black-ish" (6.348 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 2.1, #T4) plus the season premiere of "American Crime" (4.718 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 1.2, #12).

Next up was NBC (7.800 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) with the winter bows of "The Mysteries of Laura" (6.901 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #13), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.840 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #8) and "Chicago PD" (8.659 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #7).

Meanwhile, CBS (6.142 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) offered up the relocated "2 Broke Girls" (6.294 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.7, #9), the season premiere of "Mike & Molly" (6.680 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.6, #10) and "The 42nd Annual People's Choice Awards" (5.970 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.3, #11).

And finally, repeats of "Arrow" (1.122 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T14) and "Supernatural" (0.936 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T14) on The CW (1.029 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+35.71% - Chicago PD (vs. 11/18/15)
+28.57% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. 11/18/15)
+23.53% - Black-ish (vs. 12/9/15)
+5.00% - The Middle (vs. 12/9/15)
+5.00% - The Goldbergs (vs. 12/9/15)
+3.85% - Modern Family (vs. 12/9/15)
0.00% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. 12/17/15)
0.00% - The Mysteries of Laura (vs. 11/18/15)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+41.18% - American Crime (vs. Galavant (Repeats))
+30.77% - 2 Broke Girls (vs. The Mentalist)
+23.08% - Mike & Molly (vs. The Mentalist)
+18.75% - Chicago PD
+5.88% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
0.00% - Black-ish
-8.70% - The Middle
-9.68% - American Idol - 8:00
-15.38% - The Mysteries of Laura
-15.63% - Modern Family
-16.00% - The Goldbergs
-16.22% - American Idol - 9:00 (vs. Empire)
-27.78% - The 42nd Annual People's Choice Awards

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," 3.1/8; "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," 2.1/5; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.0/5.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.1/6; "Late Show," 0.4/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.7/3.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.3/4 in metered-market households and a 0.4/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.5/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show" (1.1/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.6/4 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.2/1).

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/4 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.3/3 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.


Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/7/15):

FOX (10.359 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.4, #1) was the network to beat on Wednesday with the return of "American Idol" (10.886 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.1, #3) followed by the premiere of "Empire" (9.833 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.7, #1) - FOX's highest rated series debut in three years among adults 18-49 (since "Touch" on 1/25/12).

ABC (6.288 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 2.0, #2) then had to settle for second place with originals from "The Middle" (8.486 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 2.3, #5), "The Goldbergs" (7.790 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 2.5, #4), "Modern Family" (9.229 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.2, #2) and "Black-ish" (6.309 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 2.1, #6) plus encores of "Galavant" (3.383 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 1.0, #12) and another "Galavant" (2.530 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13).

Next up was CBS (8.714 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.6, #3) with the relocated "The Mentalist" (8.993 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10) and "The 41st Annual People's Choice Awards" (8.574 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #7).

Meanwhile, NBC (7.324 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.5, #4) offered up the winter premieres of "The Mysteries of Laura" (6.765 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 1.3, #T10), "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (7.776 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 1.7, #8) and "Chicago PD" (7.432 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.6, #9).

And finally, repeats of "Arrow" (0.975 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.2, #15) and "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (1.086 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #14) on The CW (1.031 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the night. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the former delivered a 0.2 rating while the latter posted a 0.3 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+21.43% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. 12/10/14)
+14.29% - Chicago PD (vs. 12/10/14)
+13.64% - The Goldbergs (vs. 12/10/14)
+8.33% - The Mysteries of Laura (vs. 12/10/14)
+4.55% - The Middle (vs. 12/10/14)
+3.23% - Modern Family (vs. 12/10/14)
-7.14% - The Mentalist (vs. 12/28/14)
-8.70% - Black-ish (vs. 12/10/14)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+208.33% - Empire (vs. Step Brothers (Repeat))
+158.33% - American Idol (vs. Step Brothers (Repeat))
+66.67% - The Goldbergs (vs. Super Fun Night)
+16.67% - Black-ish (vs. Super Fun Night)
+4.55% - The Middle
-8.57% - Modern Family
-16.13% - The Mentalist (vs. 2 Broke Girls (Repeats))
-18.75% - The Mysteries of Laura (vs. Revolution)
-19.05% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
-20.00% - Chicago PD
-21.74% - The 41st Annual People's Choice Awards

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," 3.0/8; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.3/6; 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," 1.0/5; "Late Show," 0.5/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.5/2.

·From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.2/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

·From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Seth Meyers" (1.4/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show " (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.5/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).

·At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.8/3 with an encore in metered-market households and a 0.3/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research





  [january 2016]  
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
[10/15/26 - 10:29 AM]
ESPN Delivered Its Most-Watched WNBA Playoffs Ever!
Across eight games, ESPN networks averaged 1.4 million viewers, up 23% compared to coverage through the semifinals last year.

[10/15/26 - 08:00 AM]
CBS Wins Its Premiere Week with Eight of the Top 10 Broadcast Shows and Delivers +9% Year-Over-Year Growth
Weekly viewership averaged 4.43 million viewers, growing +9% from its 2025 premiere week (4.08m viewers).

[10/14/26 - 04:10 PM]
Nebraska Volleyball Serves Up a Big Saturday on FOX
Nebraska's 3-0 win averaged 945,000 viewers on FOX.

[10/14/26 - 03:50 PM]
Indiana's Win Over Nebraska Scores 6,734,000 Viewers on FOX
"Big Noon Saturday" peaked at 9,623,000 viewers.

[10/14/26 - 03:04 PM]
"College GameDay" Continues Record Pace as ESPN College Football Delivers Historic Week 6 Audiences
ABC scored its most-watched college football tripleheader of the season with 8.5 million viewers, led by Georgia-Alabama (12.2 million) and Oklahoma-Texas (9.8 million) - both record-setting rivalry audiences.

[10/14/26 - 02:50 PM]
26,697,000 Viewers for "America's Game of the Week" Highlight FOX NFL's Week 5
Said coverage was the most watched telecast of the week on any network.

[10/14/26 - 02:44 PM]
FOX Scores Most-Watched LCS Game 1 on Any Network Since 2005
10,719,000 viewers tuned in Sunday night for NLCS Game 1 on FOX and FOX Deportes.

[10/14/26 - 11:31 AM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of October 5
"Carrie," "Neagley," "Reacher," "Off Campus," and "Sterling Point" led all original series worldwide.

[10/14/26 - 07:29 AM]
ESPN Delivers Sixth Straight Year of Television Viewership Growth, Up 10% in Fiscal Year 2026
ESPN and ESPN on ABC each posted 11% year-over-year growth in total viewership, while ESPN2 increased 3%.

[10/12/26 - 03:33 PM]
ESPN's "Saban" Delivered Its Most-Watched Original Debut Since 2022
The premiere averaged 529,000 viewers on ESPN on Thursday, October 8, making it the most-watched original debut on ESPN since 2022 and third most-watched ESPN original debut of all time.

[10/08/26 - 03:32 PM]
CBS All-"NCIS" Tuesday Premieres +39% Higher Than Last Year
"NCIS," the series premiere of "NCIS: New York," and "NCIS: Origins" were the night's top three most-watched scripted broadcast programs.

[10/08/26 - 02:26 PM]
ABC News Wins in Late Night and Friday Night
"20/20: Home Alone" ranked as the Friday's No. 1 newsmagazine in Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49 on Friday, October 2.

[10/08/26 - 11:25 AM]
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" Leads Late Night with Live Shows from Brooklyn Academy of Music
The series topped late-night for the second week in a row this season, scoring 2.66 million Total Viewers and a 0.27 rating among Adults 18-49.

[10/07/26 - 02:01 PM]
UPtv Is the Fastest Growing Cable Network in 2026
Fueling UPtv's impressive growth are hit series "Hudson & Rex," UP Faith & Family original series "Blue Skies," which just wrapped its impressive cable debut, and acquired fan-favorite series "The Rookie."

[10/07/26 - 11:01 AM]
Top 10 Most-Watched Prime Original Films & Series for the Week of September 28
"Neagley," "Reacher," "Off Campus," "Sterling Point," and "El Juicio" led all original series worldwide.