Ratings: NFL Draft Lower, Still a Big Draw for ESPN; Comedy Block Powers CBS
Coverage of the NFL Draft was expected to win Thursday night overall for ESPN, but it seemed to have minimal effect on the broadcast networks. CBS prevailed in most categories behind the rising and dominant “The Big Bang Theory” and good numbers for “The Odd Couple” and “Mom,” while ABC placed second but appears poised to again win in 3-day demo ratings with its Shondaland lineup of dramas.
In Nielsen’s metered-market overnights, round one coverage of the NFL draft averaged a 4.7 household rating on ESPN from 8-11:45 p.m. ET, peaking with a 5.6 rating from 9:15-9:30. It was down 8% from last year (5.1) and well below two years ago (6.8), which represents the peak rating for the event since it began airing the opening round in primetime in 2010.
ESPN should finish on top for the night in 18-49 with a mid-to-high 2 demo rating. Last year, its 5.1 overnight translated into a 3.0 rating in 18-49 and 7.03 million viewers overall, and NFL Network did a 0.9 in the demo and 1.82 million viewers. Numbers for both networks will be released this afternoon by Nielsen.
Looking at the broadcast action, CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” (3.3/12 in 18-49, 13.9 million viewers overall) was up a tick in the demo from last week to easily stand as Thursday’s top program in 18-49 as well as 25-54 (4.7/15), 18-34 (1.7/8) and total viewers. “Odd Couple” followed (1.8/6 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall) by either matching or setting a season high (depending on whether it holds the 1.8 in the finals), and “Mom” held at its good level from last week (1.8/6 in 18-49, 8.4 million viewers overall). In the back half of the night, “2 Broke Girls” (1.6/5 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall) and “Rush Hour” (0.9/3 in 18-49, 4.4 million viewers overall) were down a tenth from last week but at their levels of two weeks ago.
At ABC, “Grey’s Anatomy” (1.9/7 in 18-49, 7.8 million viewers overall) opened the night with a season low, though it could round up in the finals; it placed second to CBS for the 8 o’clock hour in 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers while winning in adults 18-34 (1.6/7) ans some younger female demos. “Scandal” (1.6/5 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) was up a tenth and pulled to within a tenth of the CBS comedy block in 18-49, and “The Catch” (1.0/3 in 18-49, 4.6 million viewers overall) also edged up to beat the competing dramas on CBS and NBC in 18-49.
NBC’s “Strong” (0.7/2 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) was down a tenth from the last two weeks, but the net spiked as usual at 9 p.m. with “The Blacklist” (1.2/4 in 18-49, 6.6 million viewers overall), which was also down a tenth but appears likely to get that back in the finals (currently at 1.245); last week, it was the biggest percentage gainer among Big Four Thursday shows in 18-49, rising 74% (1.34 to 2.33). And at 10 p.m., “Game of Silence” (0.7/2 in 18-49, 3.2 million viewers overall) held at last week’s rating.
At Fox, “Bones” (0.8/3 in 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) will need another adjustment in the finals to avoid hitting a season low. And “American Grit” (0.7/2 in 18-49, 2.2 million viewers overall) held at last week’s number in its third outing.
CW’s “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow” (0.7/2 in 18-49, 1.8 million viewers overall) and “The 100” (0.5/1 in 18-49, 1.3 million viewers overall) were both up a tick week to week, though the latter is a candidate to revise down in the finals (currently at 0.452). “Legends” out-rated NBC in adults 18-34 (0.5 to 0.4) and matched it in 18-49, while “100” had its most-watched episode since March 3. Compared with the opening night of the May sweep a year ago (“The Vampire Diaries” and “Reign”), CW was uop 50% in 18-49 rating (0.6 vs. 0.4).
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