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

Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (1/1/21):

FOX (1.915 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1) opened 2021 on top with its presentation of "WWE SmackDown" (1.915 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1).

CBS (3.142 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.2, #4) was the most-watched network thanks to its repeat lineup of "MacGyver" (2.982 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7), "Magnum P.I." (3.034 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.2, #T7) and "Blue Bloods" (3.411 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5).

Next up was NBC (2.367 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) with its duo of "Weakest Link" (2.323 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) and "Dateline NBC" (2.389 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

Meanwhile, ABC (2.185 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) offered up repeats of "Shark Tank" (2.409 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) and "20/20" (2.074 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.3, #T5).

And finally, The CW (0.480 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) closed out the night with its simulcast of VH1's "RuPaul's Drag Race" (0.515 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T9) and a repeat "Masters of Illusion" (0.375 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T9).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - Dateline NBC (vs. 12/11/20)
-44.44% - WWE SmackDown

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
-28.57% - WWE SmackDown
-33.33% - Dateline NBC
-41.18% - RuPaul's Drag Race (vs. Penn & Teller: Fool Us/Whose Line Is It Anyway? (Repeats))

Here are the highlights of the 12 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (1/3/20):

CBS (7.828 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) pulled into the top spot on Friday thanks to its crossover between "Hawaii Five-0" (7.986 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.9, #1) and "Magnum P.I." (7.809 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.8, #2) plus a new "Blue Bloods" (7.688 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3).

FOX (2.418 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #2) had to settle for second with its weekly presentation of "WWE SmackDown" (2.418 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3).

Next up was ABC (3.430 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) with repeats of "American Housewife" (2.615 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #8) and "Fresh Off the Boat" (1.904 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.3, #9) alongside a two-hour "20/20" (4.015 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3).

Meanwhile, NBC (3.331 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #T3) served up a repeat "Ellen's Game of Games" (3.463 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T3) and a two-hour "Dateline NBC" (3.266 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.6, #7).

And finally, second runs of "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (0.984 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.2, #10), "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.743 million viewers, #11; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T11) and another "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" (0.655 million viewers, #12; adults 18-49: 0.1, #T11) rounded out the night on The CW (0.841 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+50.00% - Hawaii Five-0 (vs. 12/13/19)
+50.00% - Dateline NBC
+40.00% - 20/20 (vs. 12/13/19)
+33.33% - Magnum P.I. (vs. 12/13/19)
+16.67% - Blue Bloods (vs. 12/6/19)
0.00% - WWE SmackDown

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+28.57% - Hawaii Five-0 (vs. MacGyver)
+9.09% - Dateline NBC (vs. The Blacklist/Dateline NBC)
0.00% - Magnum P.I. (vs. Hawaii Five-0)
-12.50% - 20/20
-12.50% - Blue Bloods
-12.50% - WWE SmackDown (vs. Various)

Source: Nielsen Media Research