Fast National ratings for Friday, March 20, 2015.
The series finale of “Glee” got a 30 percent audience bump for FOX, but in practical numbers that meant growth of just over 500,000 viewers, while the former sensation grew only 0.1 in the key demo and failed to hit The Mulaney Line.
With the NCAA Tournament failing to generate any big Friday night upsets, CBS' basketball coverage had a weak night and “Shark Tank” was able to lead ABC to primetime wins in most measures.
Over on The CW, “Hart of Dixie” was up from recent airings in viewers, while the pilot for “iZombie” got a solid encore sampling.
Let's get to the numbers…
Among adults 18-49, ABC averaged a 1.3 rating for Friday night, tops in the key demographic. NBC and CBS were close behind with a 1.2 key demo rating. FOX averaged a 0.8 key demo rating for the night, doubling up the 0.4 key demo rating for The CW.
Overall, ABC and NBC both averaged a 4.1 rating/7 share for the night, but ABC won with an estimated 6.28 million viewers, topping the 6.11 million viewers for NBC. CBS was a distant third with 3.81 million viewers and a 2.4/4, followed by FOX's 2.61 and 1.7/3 for the night. The CW averaged 1.32 million viewers and a 0.9/2.
8 p.m. – ABC led the 8 p.m. hour overall with “Last Man Standing” (7.06 million and a 1.3 key demo) and “Cristela” (5.47 million and a 1.0 key demo), finishing second in the key demo. NBC's “Grimm” was second with 4.9 million viewers and also tied for second with a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49. CBS' basketball coverage averaged 4.35 million viewers and an hour-winning 1.2 key demo rating. The first hour of FOX's “Glee” finale averaged 2.695 million viewers and a 0.8 key demo rating, nearly doubling the 1.36 million viewers and 0.4 key demo rating for the season's penultimate “Hart of Dixie” episode.
9 p.m. – “Shark Tank” ruled the 9 p.m. hour with 7.45 million viewers and a 1.8 rating among adults 18-49. NBC's “Dateline” was second with 5.97 million viewers and third with a 1.1 key demo rating, compared to the 3.54 million viewers and 1.2 key demo rating for CBS' basketball. The second hour of the “Glee” finale actually dipped with 2.525 million viewers and a 0.7 key demo rating, still easily beating the 1.28 million viewers and 0.4 key demo rating for The CW's “iZombie” encore.
10 p.m. – “Dateline” rose to 7.47 million viewers and a 1.4 rating among adults 18-49 to easily beat the 5.13 million viewers and 1.1 key demo rating for ABC's “20/20.” CBS' basketball was third with 3.54 million viewers and second with a 1.2 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.