Fast National ratings for Monday, May 25, 2015.
NBC got a big return from “American Ninja Warrior” to lead the first Monday of TV's summer in the key demographic, while “The Bachelorette” helped ABC eke out a slim overall victory.
The news was less good for NBC's series premiere for “The Island,” though that launch certainly didn't tank.
Also continuing to do OK numbers was ABC's “500 Questions.”
Let's get to the ratings…
Among adults 18-49, NBC averaged a 1.6 rating for Monday night, tops in the key demographic. ABC was a close second with a 1.4 key demo rating, comfortably ahead of CBS' 0.8 key demo rating and the 0.7 key demo rating for FOX. The CW averaged a 0.3 key demo rating for Monday night.
Overall, though, ABC averaged an estimated 5.29 million viewers and a 3.5 rating/6 share for Monday primetime, edging out the 5.25 million viewers and 2.9/5 for NBC. CBS was a close third with 5.09 million viewers and a 3.3/6 for the night. FOX's 2.29 million viewers and 1.4/2 and The CW's 1.07 million viewers and 0.6/1 trailed.
8 p.m. – NBC led the 8 p.m. hour with 5.57 million viewers and a 1.6 rating among adults 18-49 for the first hour of “American Ninja Warrior.” CBS' repeats of “2 Broke Girls” and “Mike & Molly” averaged 5.25 million viewers for second and a 1.0 key demo rating for third, compared to the 5.22 million viewers and 1.1 key demo rating for ABC's “500 Questions.” FOX's “MasterChef” encore averaged 2.21 million viewers and a 0.6 key demo rating, basically doubling the 1.12 million viewers and 0.3 key demo rating for The CW's airing of “Memorial Day.”
9 p.m. – “American Ninja Warrior” rose to 6.21 million viewers and a 1.9 rating among adults 18-49 to led the 9 p.m. hour for NBC. ABC's “The Bachelorette” was second with 5.56 million viewers and a 1.7 key demo rating. A “Scorpion” repeat put CBS in third with 4.96 million viewers and a 0.8 key demo rating, ahead of the 2.38 million viewers and 0.7 key demo rating for FOX's “MasterChef” encore. The CW's movie averaged 1.02 million viewers and a 0.2 key demo rating.
10 p.m. – ABC grabbed first place for the 10 p.m. hour with 5.09 million viewers and a 1.5 rating among adults 18-49. CBS' repeat of “NCIS: Los Angeles” was a close second with 5.055 million viewers and third with a 0.7 key demo rating. The premiere of “The Island” drew 3.98 million viewers and a 1.2 key demo rating for NBC, actually leading the hour among men 18-49.
All ratings information comes from preliminary Fast National Nielsen data, which includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are subject to change.