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 (8/17/16):

NBC (20.538 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1) was the king once again on Wednesday with its coverage of the "Olympic Games Rio 2016" (20.538 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.8, #1).

CBS (3.728 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) then was a distant silver with its mix of "Big Brother 18" (5.851 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2), "Criminal Minds" (2.964 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and "American Gothic" (2.370 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11).

Next up was FOX (1.941 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) with a repeat "MasterChef" (1.941 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.004 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) offered up a marathon of "The Real O'Neals" (2.470 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7), another "The Real O'Neals" (1.983 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7), even more "The Real O'Neals" (1.888 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7), yet another "The Real O'Neals" (1.741 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T7), "Modern Family" (2.006 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) and "Black-ish" (1.938 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3).

And finally, a new "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (1.490 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12) and the premiere of "My Last Days" (0.548 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) closed out the night for The CW (1.019 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Big Brother 18
0.00% - American Gothic
-25.00% - Penn & Teller: Fool Us

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - My Last Days (vs. A Wicked Offer)
-14.29% - Big Brother 18
-25.00% - Penn & Teller: Fool Us (vs. America's Next Top Model)
-33.33% - American Gothic (vs. Criminal Minds (Repeat))

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

Late-night metered market ratings will return following the Olympics.

Here are the highlights of the 16 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/19/15):

NBC (5.637 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1) was the most-watched network on Wednesday with its mix of "America's Got Talent" (8.985 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.6, #2), "Mr. Robinson" (4.175 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T6), the season finale of "Mr. Robinson" (3.370 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8) and "Last Comic Standing" (4.154 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4).

CBS (5.154 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #T1) however shared in the top demo honors with new episodes of "Big Brother 17" (6.506 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1), "Extant" (4.583 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #13) and a repeat "Criminal Minds" (4.375 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.6, #14).

Next up was FOX (3.856 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #3) with originals from "MasterChef" (4.522 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.3, #3) and "Home Free" (3.190 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8).

Meanwhile, ABC (3.266 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #4) offered up repeats of "The Middle" (3.880 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8), "The Goldbergs" (3.206 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8), "Modern Family" (3.758 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T4) and "Black-ish" (3.301 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T6) plus a new "Celebrity Wife Swap" (2.726 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T8).

And finally, new episodes of "America's Next Top Model" (1.195 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.4, #15) and "A Wicked Offer" (0.672 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.2, #16) on The CW (0.934 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), the former delivered a 0.5 rating while the latter posted a 0.2 rating.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+28.57% - Celebrity Wife Swap
+12.50% - Home Free
0.00% - Big Brother 17
0.00% - America's Got Talent
0.00% - Mr. Robinson - 9:00
0.00% - Extant
-7.14% - MasterChef
-8.33% - Last Comic Standing
-10.00% - Mr. Robinson - 9:30
-20.00% - America's Next Top Model
-33.33% - A Wicked Offer

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+45.45% - America's Got Talent (vs. America's Got Talent (Repeat))
+44.44% - MasterChef (vs. So You Think You Can Dance)
+22.22% - Last Comic Standing (vs. Taxi Brooklyn)
+12.50% - Celebrity Wife Swap (vs. Motive)
0.00% - Home Free (vs. So You Think You Can Dance)
0.00% - A Wicked Offer (vs. The 100 (Repeat))
-8.70% - Big Brother 17
-30.00% - Extant
-33.33% - America's Next Top Model (vs. Penn & Teller: Fool Us)
-44.44% - Mr. Robinson - 9:00 (vs. America's Got Talent)
-50.00% - Mr. Robinson - 9:30 (vs. America's Got Talent)

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

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research