It was a good night for “Greatest Hits.”
The ABC freshman summer series soared 50 percent in both the key 18-49 demographic and among total viewers on its season finale. It didn’t hurt that the Arsenio Hall-hosted show went up against an “American Ninja Warrior” rerun.
That doesn’t mean that ABC topped Thursday, however. CBS won the evening, and NBC finished second in primetime.
CBS 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 reruns, “Big Brother” scored a 1.9/7 and 5.9 million viewers. Another repeat followed.
NBC was second in ratings with a 1.0/4 and in viewers with 4.1 million. A Rio Olympics preview at 8 p.m. ET posted a 1.1/5 and 5 million viewers. The “Ninja Warrior” repeat followed.
ABC was third in ratings with a 0.9/4 and in viewers with 3.5 million. “BattleBots” at 8 p.m. ET had a 0.8/4 and 3.3 million viewers. The two-hour “Greatest Hits” starting at 9 averaged a 0.9/4 and 3.6 million viewers.
Fox, Univision and Telemundo tied for fourth in ratings, each with a 0.6. Telemundo had a 3 share, Fox and Univision both got a 2. Fox was fourth in total viewers with 2 million, airing just a two-hour “Home Free” finale; Univision was fifth with 1.7 million; Telemundo was sixth with 1.6 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.3/1 and in viewers with 1.2 million, airing only reruns.
Here is last night’s busy “Greatest Hits” performance lineup:
- Adam Lambert — “Faith” (George Michael)
- Ariana Grande — “How Will I Know”/ “Queen of the Night” (Whitney Houston)
- Céline Dion — “My Heart Will Go On” (Performing from Montreal)
- Colin Hay — “Down Under”
- En Vogue — “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)”
- Flo Rida — (Performing a hip-hop tribute)
- John Legend — “Ex Factor / Doo Wop (That Thing)” (Lauryn Hill)
- Nelly — “Ride wit Me” / “Hot in Herre”
- New Edition — “If It Isn’t Love” / “Sensitivity” / “Rub You The Right Way” / “Poison”
- Richard Marx — “Don’t Mean Nothing”
- Sheryl Crow & Kelsea Ballerini — “All I Wanna Do”
- Smash Mouth & Hunter Hayes — “All Star”