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[05/01/21 - 10:08 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 nine ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks last night (4/30/21):

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

CBS (5.201 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) was the most-watched network on Friday thanks to the series finale of "MacGyver" (4.340 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) followed by new episodes of "Magnum P.I." (5.109 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) and "Blue Bloods" (6.154 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

FOX (1.923 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1) was the demo champ with its latest edition of "WWE SmackDown" (1.923 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #1).

Next up was NBC (3.247 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) with new episodes of "The Blacklist" (3.301 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.3, #7) and "Dateline NBC" (3.221 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

Meanwhile, ABC (1.833 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2) offered up its coverage of the "2021 NFL Draft - Rounds 2-3" (1.833 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #T2).

And finally, the special "World's Funniest Animals: Spring Fling" (1.018 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.2, #8) and a repeat "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" (0.943 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.1, #9) on The CW (0.981 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.2, #5) rounded out the night.

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - WWE SmackDown
0.00% - MacGyver (vs. 4/16/20)
-20.00% - Magnum P.I. (vs. 4/16/20)
-20.00% - Dateline NBC
-25.00% - The Blacklist
-33.33% - Blue Bloods (vs. 4/16/20)

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
0.00% - WWE SmackDown
0.00% - World's Funniest Animals: Spring Fling (vs. Charmed)
-33.33% - MacGyver
-40.00% - The Blacklist
-42.86% - Magnum P.I.
-42.86% - Dateline NBC
-42.86% - Blue Bloods
-42.86% - 2021 NFL Draft - Rounds 2-3 (vs. 4/24/20)


Here are the highlights of the 10 ad-sustained programs that aired in primetime on the broadcast networks one year ago (5/1/20):

CBS (7.153 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #1) was the top draw on Friday with its mix of "MacGyver" (5.891 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.6, #5), "Magnum P.I." (7.101 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2) and the season finale of "Blue Bloods" (8.468 million viewers, #1; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2).

NBC (4.570 million viewers, #2; adults 18-49: 0.6, #2) was a close second with its duo of "The Blacklist" (4.545 million viewers, #6; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6) and "Dateline NBC" (4.583 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.7, #T2).

Next up was ABC (3.480 million viewers, #3; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) with a new "Shark Tank" (4.848 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.8, #1) and a repeat "20/20" (2.795 million viewers, #7; adults 18-49: 0.4, #8).

Meanwhile, FOX (1.919 million viewers, #4; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T3) offered up another edition of "WWE SmackDown" (1.919 million viewers, #8; adults 18-49: 0.5, #T6).

And finally, The CW (0.488 million viewers, #5; adults 18-49: 0.1, #5) closed out the night with the season finale of "Charmed" (0.639 million viewers, #9; adults 18-49: 0.2, #9) and a new "Dynasty" (0.336 million viewers, #10; adults 18-49: 0.1, #10).

Week-to-week changes (adults 18-49):
+16.67% - Dateline NBC
0.00% - Shark Tank (vs. 4/10/20)
0.00% - Magnum P.I.
0.00% - WWE SmackDown
0.00% - Charmed (vs. 4/17/20)
0.00% - Dynasty (vs. 4/17/20)
-12.50% - Blue Bloods
-14.29% - MacGyver
-16.67% - The Blacklist

Year-to-year changes (adults 18-49):
+100.00% - Charmed (vs. Dynasty)
+60.00% - Shark Tank (vs. ScreenTime: Diane Sawyer Reporting)
+16.67% - Dateline NBC
0.00% - Magnum P.I. (vs. Hawaii Five-0)
0.00% - WWE SmackDown (vs. Various)
0.00% - Dynasty (vs. Whose Line Is It Anyway? (Repeats))
0.00% - MacGyver
-12.50% - Blue Bloods
-16.67% - The Blacklist

Source: Nielsen Media Research, ShowBuzzDaily.com





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