“The Blacklist: Redemption” upgraded its lead-ins this Thursday, leading NBC to win primetime outright in a combination with “The Voice” and “Chicago Med.”
As a result, the NBC spinoff became the first new midseason drama to grow from Week 1 to Week 2 since “Empire” did back in 2015. Of course, that one was more about the Fox hip-hop soap opera turning into a cultural phenomenon — this lift can be credited to better scheduling.
It also didn’t hurt NBC’s efforts that ABC sat “TGIT” on the bench last night. Nor was the peacock’s “W” impeded by CBS airing mostly reruns.
The Disney-owned broadcaster actually tied for last place with CW, despite running original programming from 8 – 11 p.m.
NBC was first in ratings with a 1.6 rating/6 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 8 million, according to preliminary numbers. “The Voice” at 8 p.m. earned a 2.3/9 and 10.6 million viewers. At 9, “Chicago Med” scored a 1.7/6 and 8.8 million viewers. The “Blacklist” spinoff at 10 received a 1.0/4 and 4.7 million viewers.
CBS was second in ratings with a 1.2/4 and in viewers with 6.1 million. Following repeats, “Training Day” at 10 managed a 0.8/3 and 4.4 million viewers.
Fox was third in ratings with a 1.0/4 and in viewers with 2.9 million. “MasterChef Junior” at 8 had a 1.1/4 and 3.6 million viewers. At 9, the season finale of “My Kitchen Rules” got a 0.8/3 and 2.2 million viewers.
Univision was fourth in ratings with a 0.7/3 and fifth in viewers with 2.1 million.
Telemundo was fifth in ratings with a 0.6/2 and sixth in viewers with 1.5 million.
ABC and CW tied for sixth in ratings, both with a 0.5/2. ABC was fourth in total viewers with 2.3 million, CW was seventh with 1.3 million.
For ABC, “When We Rise: People Behind the Story” at 8 received a 0.5/2 and 2.7 million viewers. Part 3 of miniseries “When We Rise” at 9 settled for the same rating/share and 2.1 million viewers.
For CW, “Supernatural” at 8 had a 0.6/2 and 1.6 million viewers. At 9, “Riverdale” got a 0.4/1 and 1.1 million viewers.