“Big Brother” slipped to a new season-premiere low on Wednesday night, though the reality show was still “big” enough to carry CBS to a first-place finish.
Fox ended up No. 2 in both the key demo’s ratings and in terms of total viewers, thanks to its all-Gordon Ramsay primetime lineup.
NBC and ABC tied for third among adults 18-49.
CBS was first in ratings with a 1.3 rating/6 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 5.4 million, according to preliminary numbers. “Big Brother 20” starting at 8 p.m. posted a 1.5/7 and 5.5 million viewers, down 12 percent and 6 percent from last summer, respectively. At 10, “Code Black” had a 0.8/4 and 5.7 million viewers.
Fox was second in ratings with a 1.0/5 and in viewers with 3.6 million. “MasterChef” at 8 put up a 1.0/5 and 3.7 million viewers. At 9, “24 Hours to Hell and Back” landed a 1.1/5 and 3.5 million viewers.
NBC and ABC tied for third in ratings, both with a 0.6/3. NBC was third in total viewers with 2.9 million, ABC was fourth with 2.4 million.
For NBC, following repeats, “Reverie” at 10 settled for a 0.3/2 and 1.8 million viewers.
ABC aired all reruns on Wednesday.
Univision and Telemundo tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.5/2. Univision was fifth in total viewers with 1.6 million. Telemundo was sixth with 1.3 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in viewers with 1 million, running repeats.