Fast National ratings for Thursday, February 5, 2015.
The Thursday premiere of “Blacklist” got off to an encouraging start for NBC, topping “Scandal” overall and giving NBC a big boost for the hour, but the same cannot be said of “Allegiance,” which is an instant dud for the network.
NBC's new drama lineup had the effect of slightly hurting ABC — all three dramas were down — and probably permanently crushing “Backstrom,” but it didn't change the Thursday pecking order. “The Big Bang Theory” still carried CBS to overall victory and ABC's three dramas still won in the key demographic.
Also notable on Thursday, “The Vampire Diaries” saw small week-to-week growth, but “Reign” slipped below a million viewers for the night. And while “Backstrom” was way down, “American Idol” actually rose week to week for FOX.
Let's get to the numbers…
Among adults 18-49, ABC averaged a 2.7 rating for Thursday night, edging out CBS' 2.4 rating in the key demographic. FOX finished third for the night with a 1.7 key demo rating, topping NBC's 1.5 key demo rating in fourth. The CW averaged a 0.6 key demo rating for Thursday.
Overall, though, CBS averaged an estimated 10.31 million viewers and a 6.3 rating/10 share for Thursday night, widening its margin of victory over ABC's 8.58 million and 5.7/10. NBC averaged 4.1/7 and 6.65 million viewers, edging out the 6.57 million viewers and 3.9/6 for FOX. The CW averaged 1.33 million viewers and a 0.9/1 for the night.
8 p.m. – CBS led the 8 p.m. hour with “The Big Bang Theory” (16.83 million and a 4.5 key demo) and “Mom” (11.78 million and a 2.8 key demo), the night's two top programs in all measures. FOX's “American Idol” moved up to second with 9.5 million viewers and a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49, beating the 7.88 million viewers and 2.2 key demo rating for ABC's “Grey's Anatomy.” NBC's encore of “Blacklist” was fourth with 5.08 million viewers and a 1.0 key demo rating, topping the 1.67 million viewers and 0.8 key demo rating for The CW's “The Vampire Diaries.”
9 p.m. – NBC's “The Blacklist” time period premiere averaged 9.95 million viewers to win the 9 p.m. hour and finished second with a 2.3 rating among adults 18-49, compared to the 9.53 million viewers and 3.1 key demo rating for ABC's “Scandal.” CBS was third with “Two and a Half Men” (9.41 million viewers and a 2.3 key demo) and a “Big Bang Theory” repeat (8.19 million and a 1.9 key demo), with the latter easily beating last week's new “McCarthys.” On FOX, “Backstrom” slipped hard to 3.63 million and a 1.0 key demo. The CW's “Reign” averaged only 995,000 viewers and a 0.4 key demo rating.
10 p.m. – ABC moved into first for the 10 p.m. hour with 8.32 million viewers and a 2.7 rating among adults 18-49 for “How To Get Away With Murder.” CBS' “Elementary” was second with 7.83 million viewers and a 1.5 key demo rating, getting a bump from its improved lead-in. NBC's “Allegiance” premiere averaged a pretty weak 4.93 million viewers and a 1.1 key demo rating.
All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.