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[05/25/18 - 08:24 AM]
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC Tops Demos with "The Last Days of Michael Jackson" Special
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 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (5/24/18):

ABC (4.916 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) got a boost on Thursday thanks to its two-hour special "The Last Days of Michael Jackson" (5.562 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2) followed by a new "What Would You Do?" (3.624 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4).

CBS (4.855 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) then was the number two draw with its repeat lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.709 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #1), "Young Sheldon" (6.175 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T2), "Mom" (5.089 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4), "Life in Pieces" (3.932 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #8) and "SWAT" (3.613 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10).

Next up was NBC (2.982 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) and its specials "Celebrity Ninja Warrior for Red Nose Day" (3.646 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4), "Hollywood Game Night" (3.245 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T4) and "The Red Nose Day Special" (2.055 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.921 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) offered up its special "Terrence Howard's Fright Club" (1.540 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10) and the season finale of "Showtime at the Apollo" (2.302 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #9).

And finally, repeats of "Supernatural" (0.838 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) and "Black Lightning" (0.555 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.1, #14) on The CW (0.696 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - What Would You Do?
0.00% - Showtime at the Apollo

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - The Last Days of Michael Jackson (vs. Various (Repeats))
+45.45% - What Would You Do? (vs. Various (Repeats))
-11.11% - Hollywood Game Night (vs. Running Wild with Bear Grylls)
-27.27% - Celebrity Ninja Warrior for Red Nose Day
-28.57% - The Red Nose Day Special
-45.45% - Showtime at the Apollo (vs. Love Connection)
-58.33% - Terrence Howard's Fright Club (vs. Beat Shazam)

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

TBA


Here are the highlights of the 18 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/25/17):

FOX (3.468 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #1) pulled into the top demo spot on Thursday with the premieres of "Beat Shazam" (3.566 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) and "Love Connection" (3.370 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2).

NBC (3.636 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.9, #2) then claimed the silver with its specials "American Ninja Warrior: Celebrity Ninja Warrior" (4.244 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #T2), "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" (3.948 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4) and "Red Nose Day" (2.716 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6).

Next up was CBS (4.239 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) and its lineup of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.370 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T4), "Superior Donuts" (4.458 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8), "Mom" (4.001 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8), "Life in Pieces" (3.441 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8) and a new "The Amazing Race" (3.583 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.422 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) opted for repeats of "The Goldbergs" (2.634 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8), "American Housewife" (2.267 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T15), "Modern Family" (2.453 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8), another "Modern Family" (2.672 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T6), "Black-ish" (2.434 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8) and "Speechless" (2.073 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T15).

And finally, The CW (0.728 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) rounded out the evening with repeats of "Supernatural" (0.780 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T17) and another "Supernatural" (0.677 million viewers, #18; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T17).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Running Wild with Bear Grylls (vs. 5/22/17)
-14.29% - The Amazing Race

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+120.00% - Love Connection (vs. American Grit)
+57.14% - American Ninja Warrior: Celebrity Ninja Warrior (vs. STRONG)
+50.00% - Running Wild with Bear Grylls (vs. Red Nose Day)
+50.00% - Beat Shazam (vs. Bones)
+16.67% - Red Nose Day
-14.29% - The Amazing Race (vs. Code Black (Repeat))

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

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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