Pro scheduling tip: Do not throw away your strong summer show premieres by trying to take on “America’s Got Talent.” ABC and “Bachelor in Paradise” tried exactly that in 2018 — it did not work out in their favor.
A year later, “Bachelor in Paradise” picked on “American Ninja Warrior” instead and pretty much picked its bones clean in the key 18-49 demographic. As a result, ABC won primetime in that demo, though NBC had the evening’s most total viewers.
With its Monday Season 6 premiere, “BiP” hit a near two-year high in terms of demo rating.
ABC was first in ratings with a 1.0 rating/5 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 3.8 million, according to preliminary numbers. The “Bachelor in Paradise” start from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. averaged a 1.3/7 and 4.4 million viewers. At 10, “Grand Hotel” got a 0.5/3 and 2.6 million viewers.
NBC was second in ratings with a 0.7/4 and first in viewers with 4.2 million. “American Ninja Warrior” from 8-10 averaged a 0.8/4 and 4.6 million viewers. “Dateline” at 10 had a 0.6/3 and 3.5 million viewers.
Fox was third in ratings with a 0.5/3 and in viewers with 2.3 million. “Beat Shazam” at 8 received a 0.6/3 and 2.6 million viewers. At 9, “So You Think You Can Dance” got a 0.5/2 and 2 million viewers.
Telemundo was fourth in ratings with a 0.4/2, but seventh in viewers with 1.047 million.
CBS and Univision tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.3/2. CBS was fourth in total viewers with 2.2 million, Univision was sixth with 1.074 million.
For CBS, “Love Island” at 8 had a 0.4/2 and 2.1 million viewers. Reruns followed.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in viewers with 1.091 million. “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” at 8 had a 0.2/1 and 1.2 million viewers. “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” at 9 got a 0.2/1 and 942,000 viewers. A repeat followed.