Ratings: ‘Secrets & Lies’ Hits High in Finale as ABC Wins Sunday in Demos

ABC, led by a season high for the finale of “Secrets & Lies” and getting a boost from the highest-rated “Revenge” of 2015, was the top broadcaster in key demos during all four hours of primetime on Sunday.

According to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (1.4 rating/6 share in adults 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall) continues to get the night off to a good start for ABC, winning its hour in all under-55 categories despite a week-to-week dip. It was followed by the season’s penultimate episode of “Once Upon a Time” (1.7/6 in 18-49, 5.2 million viewers overall), which was also on par with last week and led its timeslot.

“Secrets & Lies” (1.7/5 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall) matched the previous week’s series high in 18-49 and will adjust up to at least a 1.8 in the nationals; as it currently stands, it and “Once Upon a Time” are tied as Sunday’s top ad-supported series in 18-49, with “Secrets” No. 1 in adults 25-54 (2.2/6) as well. “Secrets” also hit a series high in total viewers.

And one week from its series finale, “Revenge” (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) was up 20% (0.2) week to week to hit a 2015 high in the demo and match its top score since mid-November. Like the other ABC programs on the night, it led among the broadcasters for its hour in 18-49 and 25-54.

Elsewhere, Fox followed a repeat of “The Simpsons” (0.7/3 in 18-49, 2.0 million viewers overall) with “Bob’s Burgers” (1.0/4 in 18-49, 2.2 million viewers overall), which was up a tenth from last week. The 8 o’clock-hour comedies “The Simpsons” (1.3/5 in 18-49, 3.1 million viewers overall) and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” (1.2/4 in 18-49, 2.7 million viewers overall) both were down multiple tenths from last week, but “Family Guy” (1.6/5 in 18-49, 3.7 million viewers overall) and “The Last Man on Earth” (1.4/4 in 18-49, 3.5 million viewers overall). Both “Family,” which aired its 250th episode, and “Last Man” appear poised to round up in the nationals too.

CBS got off to a slow start with “60 Minutes” (0.9/4 in 18-49, 8.5 million viewers overall), down 0.2 from last week, but “Madam Secretary” (1.0/3 in 18-49, 9.7 million viewers overall) was able to build a bit on the newsmag and match last week’s demo score with its season finale. The Tea Leoni drama, which has been renewed for a second season, was Sunday’s No. 10-rated broadcast series in 18-49 while standing as easily the night’s most-watched program overall. “The Good Wife” (0.9/3 in 18-49, 8.3 million viewers overall) was down a tick from last week but appears likely to adjust to a 1.0 in the nationals. And at 10 p.m., “Battle Creek” (0.7/2 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) matched last week’s score. All four CBS programs easily won their timeslots in total viewers.

NBC’s dramas “A.D. The Bible Continues” (1.1/3 in 18-49, 5.5 million viewers overall) and “American Odyssey” (0.5/2 in 18-49, 3.2 million viewers overall) held steady week to week. Opening the night, “Dateline” (0.8/3 in 18-49, 4.9 million viewers overall) was down 0.3 from last week but as usual built from start to finish.

Preliminary 18-49 averages for the night: ABC, 1.5/5; Fox, 1.2/4; CBS, 0.9/3; NBC, 0.8/3; Univision, 0.6/2; Telemundo, 0.5/2.

In total viewers: CBS, 8.2 million; ABC, 5.5 million; NBC, 4.6 million; Fox, 2.9 million; Univision, 1.6 million; Telemundo, 1.3 million.

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