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

Here are the highlights of the 17 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (5/16/19):

CBS (12.239 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 2.0, #1) was of course the network to beat on Thursday with part one of "The Big Bang Theory" (17.580 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 3.0, #2) series finale followed by part two of "The Big Bang Theory" (18.408 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 3.2, #1) finale, the season finale of "Young Sheldon" (13.704 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 2.2, #3), the special "Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell" (11.759 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.8, #4) and the season finale of "SWAT" (5.991 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.9, #6).

ABC (4.444 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) then was the silver draw with its finales to "Grey's Anatomy" (5.903 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.3, #5), "Station 19" (4.875 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.8, #7) and "For the People" (2.554 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11).

Next up was NBC (2.454 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #3) and its season closers to "Superstore" (2.411 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T9), another "Superstore" (2.024 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T9), "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (1.696 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11), another "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (1.534 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T11) and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (3.529 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #8).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.094 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) offered up a new "Paradise Hotel" (1.150 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T14) and a second "Paradise Hotel" (1.038 million viewers, #15; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T14).

And finally, The CW (0.568 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) closed out the night with originals from "iZombie" (0.615 million viewers, #16; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T16) and "In the Dark" (0.521 million viewers, #17; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T16).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+57.89% - The Big Bang Theory - 8:00
+46.67% - Young Sheldon
+28.57% - SWAT
+25.00% - For the People
0.00% - Grey's Anatomy
0.00% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
0.00% - iZombie
0.00% - In the Dark
-11.11% - Station 19
-14.29% - Superstore - 8:30
-16.67% - Brooklyn Nine-Nine - 9:00
-25.00% - Superstore - 8:00
-40.00% - Paradise Hotel - 8:00
-40.00% - Paradise Hotel - 9:00

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+200.00% - The Big Bang Theory - 8:00 (vs. The Big Bang Theory (Repeat))
+190.91% - The Big Bang Theory - 8:30 (vs. Young Sheldon (Repeat))
+120.00% - Young Sheldon (vs. Life in Pieces)
+100.00% - Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell (vs. Life in Pieces)
-10.00% - SWAT
-12.50% - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (vs. American Ninja Warrior: All-Stars Special)
-16.67% - For the People (vs. What Would You Do?)
-20.00% - Station 19
-25.00% - Superstore - 8:30 (vs. Ellen's Game of Games (Repeat))
-25.00% - Superstore - 8:00 (vs. Ellen's Game of Games (Repeat))
-31.58% - Grey's Anatomy
-37.50% - Brooklyn Nine-Nine - 9:00 (vs. American Ninja Warrior: All-Stars Special)
-37.50% - Brooklyn Nine-Nine - 9:30 (vs. American Ninja Warrior: All-Stars Special)
-50.00% - Paradise Hotel - 8:00 (vs. Gotham)
-50.00% - Paradise Hotel - 9:00 (vs. Showtime at the Apollo)
-60.00% - iZombie (vs. Supernatural)
-60.00% - In the Dark (vs. Arrow)

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

· In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.4/4; "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," 3.8/11; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.5/4.

· In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 0.4/2; "Late Show," 0.7/5 and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/3.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.1/4 in metered-market households and a 0.3/3 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.

· From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, ratings were: "Late Night with Seth Meyers," 1.0/4 in metered-market households; CBS's "Late Late Show," 1.5/6. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, averages were: "Late Night," 0.3/2 in 18-49; "Late Late Show," 0.4/3.

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.6/3 in metered-market households and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Here are the highlights of the 14 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/17/18):

ABC (5.118 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.2, #1) pulled into the top demo spot on Thursday thanks to the season finales of "Grey's Anatomy" (7.538 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.9, #1) and "Station 19" (5.112 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) plus the return of "What Would You Do?" (2.705 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10).

CBS (6.137 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 1.0, #2) then had to settle for second place with repeats of "The Big Bang Theory" (7.127 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) and "Young Sheldon" (7.049 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 1.1, #2) followed by a new "Life in Pieces" (5.585 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3) and the season finales of "Life in Pieces" (4.943 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.9, #7) and "SWAT" (6.059 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 1.0, #T3).

Next up was NBC (3.555 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.8, #3) with an encore of "Ellen's Game of Games" (3.925 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8) alongside the "American Ninja Warrior: All-Stars Special" (3.371 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.8, #T8).

Meanwhile, FOX (2.392 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.6, #4) offered up the season finale of "Gotham" (2.198 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10) and the penultimate week of "Showtime at the Apollo" (2.586 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T10).

And finally, the season finales of "Supernatural" (1.607 million viewers, #13; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T13) and "Arrow" (1.347 million viewers, #14; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T13) closed out the night on The CW (1.477 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.5, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+25.00% - Arrow
+11.11% - SWAT
+11.11% - Station 19
+5.56% - Grey's Anatomy
0.00% - Showtime at the Apollo
-14.29% - Gotham
-16.67% - Supernatural
-18.18% - Life in Pieces (vs. 5/3/18)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+42.86% - SWAT (vs. The Amazing Race)
+11.11% - Life in Pieces - 9:00 (vs. The Amazing Race)
0.00% - Grey's Anatomy
0.00% - Life in Pieces - 9:30 (vs. The Amazing Race)
-11.11% - American Ninja Warrior: All-Stars Special (vs. The Blacklist)
-16.67% - Arrow (vs. Supernatural)
-16.67% - Supernatural
-23.08% - Station 19 (vs. Scandal)
-25.00% - Gotham (vs. MasterChef Junior)
-40.00% - Showtime at the Apollo (vs. MasterChef Junior)
-45.45% - What Would You Do? (vs. Scandal)

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

· In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," 1.7/5; "Late Show with Stephen Colbert," 2.7/7; 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," 0.5/3; "Late Show," 0.5/3 and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.4/2.

· From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.2/4 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," 1.0/4 in metered-market households; CBS's "Late Late Show," 1.2/5. In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, averages were: "Late Night," 0.3/3 in 18-49; "Late Late Show," 0.3/2.

· At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.

Source: Nielsen Media Research