CBS was the most-watched and highest-rated broadcast network Sunday night, when broadcasters faced strong cable competition from a big “Game of Thrones” episode, the Season 7 premiere of “Mad Men,” and the MTV Movie Awards.
Several shows hit or tied season lows, including ABC’s “Once Upon a Time,” and “Revenge” and the new “Resurrection,” as well as NBC’s “new American Dream Builders” and “Believe.”
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CBS averaged a 1.7 rating in the key 18-49 demographic and 9.74 million viewers. Though those numbers were the best of the broadcasters, they are not high, and suggest viewers’ eyes were elsewhere Sunday. Cable ratings will be in later in Monday.
Golf that ran into the 7 p.m. hour and the start of “60 Minutes” scored CBS a 2.1 rating/7 share and 11.3 million total viewers. Due to the nature of tracking live sports, CBS’ numbers are approximate. At 7:30, “60 Minutes” alone scored a 1.5/5 rating and 10.9 million total viewers. At 8, “The Amazing Race” had a 1.7/5 and 9 million. At 9, “The Good Wife” had a 1.5/4 and 9.7 million. “The Mentalist” at 10 also had a 1.5/5, and earned 9.1 million total viewers.
ABC was second in the demo and total viewers with a 1.6/5 and 6 million. “America’s Funniest Home Videos” at 7 had a 1.24 and 5.7 million. At 8, “Once Upon a Time” had a 1.9/6 — tying its low — and 6.3 million. “Resurrection” at 9 had a 2.0/5 — a series low, but still good enough to be the third-highest rated show of the night — and 7.1 million total viewers. At 10, “Revenge” had a 1.3/4 — tying a series low — and 5.1 million.
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Fox was third in the ratings with a 1.3/4 and in total viewers with 3.2 million. “Bob’s Burgers” at 7 had a .8/3 and 1.9 million total viewers. “American Dad” at 7:30 had a 1.1/4 and 2.3 million. “The Simpsons” at 8 had a 1.6/5 and 3.6 million. “Family Guy” at 8:30 tied the golf overrun and start of “60 Minutes” for the highest-rated show of the night, earning a 2.1/6 and 4.3 million. “Cosmos” at 9 had a 1.2/3 and 3.5 million.
NBC was fourth in ratings with a .9/3 and third in total viewers with 4 million. “Dateline” at 7 had a .8/3 and 4.4 million total viewers. “American Dream Builders” at 8 had a .7/2 — tying a low — and 3.1 million.”Believe” at 9 had a 1.0./3 — tying a low — and 4.4 million. “Crisis” at 10 had a 1.1/3 and 4 million.
Univision and Telemundo tied for fifth in the ratings, with each scoring a .7/2. Univision was fifth in total viewers with 2.1 million to sixth-place Telemundo’s 1.8 million.