Networks, just try to schedule Denver Broncos games going forward. Days after NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” saw a strong ratings boost as Peyton Manning broke the NFL passing touchdown mark, CBS’s “Thursday Night Football” jumped up with a Broncos game of its own.
Against the Denver-San Diego Chargers matchup last night — which is the last “Thursday Night Football” game for CBS this year — NBC’s lineup ticked down, while ABC was up slightly. Univision finished third, relegating Fox to fifth. The primetime NFL Thursday games will only be on NFL Network for the duration of the football season.
CBS was first in ratings with a 4.5 rating/14 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and first in viewers with an average of 14.6 million, according to preliminary numbers. Of course, due to the nature of live sports, the following numbers are approximate. The pregame show at 8 p.m. earned a 3.4/12 and 12.3 million viewers.
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ABC was second in ratings with a 2.8/9 and in viewers with 9.5 million. “Grey’s Anatomy” at 8 received a 2.5/8 and 8.6 million viewers. “Scandal” at 9 scored a 3.0/9 and 10 million viewers. “How to Get Away With Murder” at 10 earned a 3.0/9 and 9.9 million viewers.
Univision was third in ratings with a 1.2/4, but fifth in viewers with 3 million.
NBC was fourth in ratings with a 1.1/3 and third in viewers with 4.2 million. “Biggest Loser” at 8 tied a series low with a 1.2/4 and 4.7 million viewers. “Bad Judge” at 9 dipped to a 1.0/3 and 4.3 million viewers. “A to Z” at 9:30 had a 0.9/3 and 3.2 million viewers. “Parenthood” at 10 got a 1.2/4 and 4.1 million viewers.
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Fox was fifth in ratings with a 0.8/3 and fourth in total viewers with 3.9 million. Following a rerun, “Gracepoint” at 9 had a 0.8/2 and 3.5 million viewers.
The CW was sixth in ratings with a 0.6/2 and in total viewers with 1.5 million. “Vampire Diaries” at 8 got a 0.8/3 and 1.7 million viewers. At 9, “Reign” had a 0.5/1 and 1.4 million viewers.
Telemundo was seventh in ratings with a 0.5/2 and in total viewers with 1.3 million.