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[07/25/20 - 08:32 AM]
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: CBS Tops Viewers, FOX Leads Demos
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 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (7/24/20):

FOX (1.970 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1) was the demo champ on Friday with its latest installment from "WWE SmackDown" (1.970 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1).

CBS (3.389 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.3, #4) was the most-watched network thanks to its premiere of "The Greatest #AtHome Videos" (3.583 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) followed by repeats of "Magnum P.I." (3.264 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "Blue Bloods" (3.319 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5).

Next up was NBC (2.665 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) with repeats of "The Wall" (2.298 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "Dateline NBC" (2.848 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

ABC (2.624 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) likewise opted for second runs of "Shark Tank" (2.594 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "20/20" (2.639 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

And finally, The CW (0.575 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) closed out the night with repeats of "Masters of Illusion" (0.650 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T9), another "Masters of Illusion" (0.528 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T9), "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.535 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T9) and another "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.586 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T9).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - WWE SmackDown

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+66.67% - WWE SmackDown (vs. Various)
+33.33% - The Greatest #AtHome Videos (vs. Love Island)


Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (7/26/19):

CBS (2.564 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) was the most-watched network on another modest Friday thanks to a new "Love Island" (2.037 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and repeats of "Hawaii Five-0" (2.532 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T10) and "Blue Bloods" (3.122 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5).

NBC (2.447 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) and ABC (2.208 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) then shared in the demo honors as the former served up "American Ninja Warrior" (2.365 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) and "Dateline NBC" (2.611 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) while the latter opted for "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" (2.155 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1) and "20/20" (2.235 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T1).

Next up was FOX (1.386 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T3) with repeats of "First Responders Live" (1.552 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "MasterChef" (1.220 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5).

And finally, new episodes of "Masters of Illusion" (1.189 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5) and "The Big Stage" (0.945 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T10) plus a repeat "The Outpost" (0.719 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.1, #12) rounded out the night on The CW (0.893 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Masters of Illusion
0.00% - Marvel's Agents of SHIELD
0.00% - The Big Stage
-20.00% - Dateline NBC
-40.00% - Love Island

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Masters of Illusion
0.00% - Marvel's Agents of SHIELD (vs. Quantico)
0.00% - The Big Stage (vs. Masters of Illusion (Repeat))
-25.00% - Love Island (vs. Whistleblower)
-33.33% - Dateline NBC

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

TBA

Source: Nielsen Media Research





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