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

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (8/18/16):

NBC (20.498 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1) continued its victory tour with another night of "Olympic Games Rio 2016" (20.498 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 5.7, #1).

CBS (5.158 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then was a distant second with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.678 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3), "Life in Pieces" (5.235 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4), "Big Brother 18" (6.123 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #2) and "Code Black" (3.395 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5).

Next up was FOX (3.286 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) and repeats of "Rosewood" (3.310 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5) and "Bones" (3.264 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.837 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #4) offered up second runs of "BattleBots" (2.993 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T5), "$100,000 Pyramid" (2.789 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T9) and "Match Game" (2.731 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T9).

And finally, a repeat "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" (0.966 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.3, #11) and night two of "My Last Days" (0.766 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) on The CW (0.866 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) closed out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+5.56% - Big Brother 18

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - My Last Days (vs. Arrow (Repeat))
-9.52% - Big Brother 18

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 13 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/20/15):

[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to local NFL pre-emptions, fast nationals for all networks are inflated.]

CBS (5.740 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #1) was the top draw on Thursday with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (7.141 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2), "Mom" (5.644 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #4), "Big Brother 17" (6.637 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.1, #1) and "Under the Dome" (4.191 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6).

NBC (5.717 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.3, #2) then was a close second with originals from "Food Fighters" (4.786 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.1, #5) and "Dateline NBC" (6.183 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.4, #T2).

Next up was ABC (3.711 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) and its trio of "The Astronaut Wives Club" (3.988 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T8), "Mistresses" (3.422 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T6) and "Rookie Blue" (3.723 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #11).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.548 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) offered up a new "Boom!" (2.444 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T8) and a repeat "Bones" (2.652 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T8).

And finally, an original "Beauty and the Beast" (0.913 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T12) and a second run "Arrow" (0.768 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T12) on The CW (0.840 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the evening. In the netlet's target demo (women 18-34), said duo posted a 0.2 and a 0.1 rating, respectively.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Dateline NBC
-8.33% - Food Fighters
-12.50% - Big Brother 17
-22.22% - The Astronaut Wives Club
-22.22% - Boom!
-25.00% - Rookie Blue
-27.27% - Mistresses
-42.86% - Under the Dome
-60.00% - Beauty and the Beast

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+115.38% - Dateline NBC (vs. Various)
+22.22% - Food Fighters (vs. Hollywood Game Night)
+16.67% - Boom! (vs. Bones (Repeat))
+14.29% - Under the Dome (vs. Elementary (Repeat))
0.00% - The Astronaut Wives Club (vs. The Quest)
0.00% - Beauty and the Beast (vs. The Vampire Diaries (Repeat))
-8.70% - Big Brother 17
-20.00% - Mistresses (vs. Rookie Blue)
-50.00% - Rookie Blue

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

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research