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 (9/6/18):

[Note: Fast affiliate ratings are inaccurate for live sports.]

NBC (17.283 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.0, #1) claimed the top spot on Thursday thanks to its coverage of "NFL Kickoff 2018" (11.909 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 3.9, #3), "Sunday Night Football Pre-Kick" (15.957 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 5.5, #2) and "Sunday Night Football" (18.958 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.6, #1).

CBS (4.644 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then was a distant second with its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.048 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5), "Young Sheldon" (5.598 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T5), "Big Brother 20" (5.187 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.4, #4) and "SWAT" (2.923 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9).

Next up was ABC (3.349 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) and a repeat "Celebrity Family Feud" (4.368 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #7) followed by the penultimate weeks of "Match Game" (3.273 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.6, #8) and "Take Two" (2.406 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.4, #11).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.441 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #4) served up encores of "MasterChef" (1.720 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T9) and "The Gifted" (1.163 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.3, #12).

And finally, The CW (0.622 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) likewise opted for second runs of "Supernatural" (0.774 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.2, #13) and "The Originals" (0.471 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.1, #14).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
-22.22% - Big Brother 20
-25.00% - Match Game (vs. 8/16/18)
-50.00% - Take Two

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Match Game (vs. Battle of the Network Stars)
-8.33% - Sunday Night Football
-11.36% - NFL Kickoff 2018
-20.00% - Take Two (vs. The Gong Show)
-22.22% - Big Brother 20
-22.54% - Sunday Night Football Pre-Kick

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

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," (2.3 rating in households from 1:15-2:15 a.m. ET, 1.0 in 18-49 in the local people meters):

· Is currently scoring the show's highest metered-market household and 18-49 ratings in seven months (since Friday, Feb. 9, 3.2 in metered-market households, 1.4 in 18-49 in the local people meters the night of the PyeongChang Olympic Opening Ceremony).

· In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 2.3 rating, delayed by an NFL overrun; "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," 2.4/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/4.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.0 rating, delayed by an NFL overrun; "Late Show," 0.4/2; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.3/2.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.0/4 in metered-market households and a 0.2/2 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, ratings were: " Late Night with Seth Meyers," 1.5 rating in metered-market households, delayed by an NFL overrun and currently excluding the show's final quarter-hour; CBS' "Late Late Show," 1.0/4. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, averages were: "Late Night," 0.6 in 18-49, delayed by an NFL overrun and currently excluding the show's final quarter-hour; "Late Late Show," 0.2/2.

Here are the highlights of the 15 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (9/7/17):

NBC (19.625 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 6.7, #1) rocketed to the top spot on Thursday with its primetime coverage of "NFL Kickoff 2017" (13.700 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 4.4, #3), "Sunday Night Football Pre-Kick" (21.426 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 7.1, #2) and "Sunday Night Football" (20.657 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 7.2, #1).

A distant silver then went to CBS (4.918 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) and its mix of "The Big Bang Theory" (6.566 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.2, #5), "Mom" (5.155 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.9, #6), "Big Brother 19" (6.133 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) and "Zoo" (2.761 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11).

Next up was FOX (2.242 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #3) with originals from "Beat Shazam" (2.481 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #7) and "Love Connection" (2.003 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.514 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) offered up a new "Battle of the Network Stars" (2.983 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8) followed by the season finales of "Battle of the Network Stars" (2.440 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T8) and "The Gong Show" (2.120 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11).

And finally, The CW (1.294 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.3, #5) rounded out the night with "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (1.431 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.4, #13), "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1.193 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T14) and another "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (1.122 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T14).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+20.00% - Battle of the Network Stars (vs. 8/24/17)
0.00% - Beat Shazam (vs. 8/24/17)
-5.26% - Big Brother 19
-16.67% - The Gong Show (vs. 8/17/17)
-33.33% - Penn & Teller: Fool Us
-44.44% - Zoo
-53.85% - Love Connection
-57.14% - Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - Beat Shazam (vs. Rosewood (Repeat))
+100.00% - Penn & Teller: Fool Us (vs. DC's Legends of Tomorrow (Repeat))
+50.00% - Whose Line Is It Anyway? (vs. Beauty and the Beast)
+20.00% - Love Connection (vs. Bones (Repeat))
+5.88% - Big Brother 19
0.00% - Battle of the Network Stars (vs. $100,000 Pyramid (Repeat))
0.00% - Zoo (vs. Code Black (Repeat))
-16.28% - Sunday Night Football
-16.47% - Sunday Night Football Pre-Kick
-16.67% - The Gong Show (vs. Match Game (Repeat))
-18.52% - NFL Kickoff 2017

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

"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," (2.7 rating in households from 1-2:15 a.m. ET, 1.2 in 18-49 in the local people meters):

· Is currently scoring the show's highest metered-market household and 18-49 ratings in more than eight months (since Dec. 22, 2016, 2.9 in metered-market households and 1.3 in 18-49 in the local people meters).

· Despite a later start time, "Tonight" is currently up +4% versus the same night last year in metered-market households (2.7 vs. 2.6 from 12:45-1:45 a.m. ET on Sept. 8, 2016) and retaining 100% in 18-49 in the local people meters (1.2 vs. 1.2).

· In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 2.7 rating, delayed by an NFL overrun; "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," 2.5/6; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.7/4.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.2 rating, delayed by an NFL overrun; "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 1.1/3 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, ratings were: " Late Night with Seth Meyers," 1.7 rating in metered-market households, delayed by an NFL overrun and currently excluding the show's final quarter-hour; CBS' "Late Late Show," 1.0/3. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, averages were: "Late Night," 0.8 in 18-49, delayed by an NFL overrun and currently excluding the show's final quarter-hour; "Late Late Show," 0.2/1.

Source: Nielsen Media Research