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 (8/2/18):

NBC (6.502 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.8, #1) rose to the top spot on Thursday with its coverage of "NFL Kickoff Pre-Game" (7.098 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) and "NFL Preseason: Hall of Fame Game - Baltimore vs. Chicago" (6.383 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.8, #2).

CBS (4.802 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) then had to settle for second with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (5.938 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #5), "Young Sheldon" (5.698 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T6), "Big Brother 20" (5.512 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.4, #3) and "SWAT" (3.075 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8).

Sharing the silver was FOX (3.372 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T2) with the penultimate "The Four: Battle for Stardom" (3.064 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.9, #T6) and the season finale of "The Four: Battle for Stardom" (3.679 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.1, #4).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.722 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) offered up a new "The Gong Show" (3.021 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8), a repeat "Match Game" (2.598 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T8) and a new "Take Two" (2.548 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11).

And finally, repeats of "Supernatural" (0.690 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.2, #12) and "Black Lightning" (0.493 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.1, #13) on The CW (0.591 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) rounded out the evening.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+12.50% - The Four: Battle for Stardom - 8:00
+10.00% - The Four: Battle for Stardom - 9:00
0.00% - The Gong Show
0.00% - Take Two
-6.67% - Big Brother 20

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+83.33% - The Four: Battle for Stardom - 9:00 (vs. Love Connection)
+12.50% - The Four: Battle for Stardom - 8:00 (vs. Beat Shazam)
0.00% - The Gong Show (vs. Boy Band)
-13.64% - NFL Kickoff Pre-Game
-25.00% - NFL Preseason: Hall of Fame Game - Baltimore vs. Chicago
-26.32% - Big Brother 20
-33.33% - Take Two (vs. The Gong Show)

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

TBA

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (8/3/17):

NBC (7.785 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.3, #1) surged to the top spot on Thursday with its presentation of "NFL Kickoff Pre-Game" (7.818 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.2, #2) and "NFL Preseason: Hall of Fame Game - Arizona vs. Dallas" (7.778 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 2.4, #1).

CBS (4.802 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) then had to settle for second place with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.203 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #4), "Kevin Can Wait" (4.688 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #5), "Big Brother 19" (6.269 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.9, #3) and "Zoo" (2.691 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10).

Next up was FOX (2.456 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) with fresh installments of "Beat Shazam" (2.671 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #6) and "Love Connection" (2.242 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.392 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #4) offered up originals from "Boy Band" (2.380 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T10), "Battle of the Network Stars" (2.487 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7) and "The Gong Show" (2.309 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T7).

And finally, a new "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (1.641 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T12), the relocated "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1.334 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T12) and a repeat "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1.242 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T12) rounded out the night on The CW (1.464 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - Penn & Teller: Fool Us
+33.33% - Whose Line Is It Anyway? (vs. 7/24/17)
0.00% - Big Brother 19
0.00% - Beat Shazam
0.00% - Battle of the Network Stars
0.00% - The Gong Show
0.00% - Love Connection
0.00% - Boy Band
-16.67% - Zoo

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+33.33% - Penn & Teller: Fool Us (vs. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (Repeat))
+33.33% - Whose Line Is It Anyway? (vs. Beauty and the Beast)
+33.33% - Beat Shazam (vs. Home Free)
0.00% - Big Brother 19
0.00% - Love Connection (vs. Home Free)
-16.67% - Zoo (vs. Code Black (Repeat))
-33.33% - Battle of the Network Stars (vs. Greatest Hits)
-33.33% - The Gong Show (vs. Greatest Hits)
-37.50% - Boy Band (vs. BattleBots)

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

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research