Perhaps ABC should just program Shonda Rhimes shows five nights a week — maybe even all seven.
The network’s Shondaland Thursdays debut handed ABC its most-watched Thursday night in five years. And according to preliminary numbers — which are not time zone-adjusted and thus might understate CBS’s “Thursday Night Football” — ABC was actually the most-watched network on the competitive night.
CBS beat all comers in the key demo with its NFL game, however. The network was first in ratings with an approximate 4.2 rating/13 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in viewers with an average of 11.86 million, according to preliminary numbers. The pregame show at 8 p.m. ET earned a 2.7/10 and 8.5 million viewers.
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ABC was second in ratings with a 3.5/11 and first in viewers with 11.90 million. At 8, the “Grey’s Anatomy” season premiere received a 3.0/10 and had 9.8 million viewers. At 9, the “Scandal” season opener earned a 3.8/11 and 11.9 million viewers. The series debut of “How to Get Away With Murder” at 10 scored a 3.8/11 and a primetime-best 14 million viewers.
NBC was third in ratings with a 1.3/4 and in viewers with 4.4 million. “The Biggest Loser” at 8 got a 1.3/4 and 4.5 million viewers. At 10, the season premiere of “Parenthood” had a 1.4/4 and 4.3 million viewers.
Univision was fourth in ratings with a 1.2/4 and fifth in total viewers with 3.1 million.
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Fox was fifth in ratings with a 1.1/4 and fourth in total viewers with 4.3 million. The season premiere of “Bones” at 8 received a 1.6/5 and 6.2 million viewers. A rerun followed.
Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.6/2 and in total viewers with 1.5 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in total viewers with 604,000, airing repeats.