Rachel Lindsay selected her final four suitors on Monday, when American television viewers chose “The Bachelorette” as their No. 1 show of the night.
Despite the reality dating show’s head-to-head victory over “American Ninja Warrior,” NBC topped ABC outright in primetime averages. How, you ask? Simple: NBC’s “Spartan” fared fine at 10 p.m., when the Disney-owned broadcaster dumped a “Gong Show” rerun.
Plus, the battle in the 8 and 9 o’clock hours was tight: Both alternative series averaged a 1.4 rating, while “The Bachelorette’s” 5.63 million total viewers edged “ANW’s” 5.57 million.
NBC was first in ratings with a 1.2 rating/5 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 5 million, according to preliminary numbers. Following “Ninja Warrior,” 10 p.m.’s “Spartan: Ultimate Team Challenge” received a 1.0/4 and 3.9 million viewers.
ABC was second in ratings with a 1.1/5 and in viewers with 4.6 million.
Fox was third in ratings with a 0.7/3 and fourth in viewers with 2.5 million. “So You Think You Can Dance” at 8 had a 0.8/3 and 2.9 million viewers. At 9, “Superhuman” got a 0.6/2 and 2 million viewers.
CBS, Univision and Telemundo all tied for fourth in ratings, each with a 0.5/2. CBS was third in total viewers with 3.7 million, airing just reruns; Univision was fifth with 1.4 million and Telemundo was sixth with 1.3 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in viewers with 1 million. Between repeats, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” at 9 managed a 0.3/1 and 1 million viewers.