“Survivor” Season 38 came to an end Wednesday night with an episode that avoided the franchise’s record season-finale low in the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic and won the night outright for CBS.
However, the final episode of the season, dubbed “Survivor: Edge of Extinction,” posted a total viewer tally that did fall to a new record low for a season closer in that measure.
The “Survivor” Season 38 finale scored a 1.5 rating in that key 18-49 demo and 7.214 million total viewers, according to overnight data from Nielsen. Versus the Season 37 finale, Wednesday’s episode is even in the demo and down 7% in total viewers (7.214 vs. 7.716 million). But compared to the year-ago Season 36 finale, it’s up +7% in the the 18-49 range (1.5 vs. 1.4, the record low for a finale) and down 1 percent in total viewers (7.214 million vs 7.311 million, the previous viewer low for a finale).
CBS was first in ratings with a 1.4 rating/7 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 6.8 million, according to preliminary numbers. From 8-10:30 p.m., the “Survivor: Edge of Extinction” finale posted the previously noted rating and viewer count, plus a 7 share. At 10:30, the “Survivor” reunion special got a 1.1/5 and 5.5 million viewers.
NBC was second in ratings with a 1.0/5 and first in viewers with 7.5 million. At 8, “Chicago Med” landed a 1.1/5 and 7.9 million viewers. At 9, “Chicago Fire” posted a 1.0/5 and 7.9 million viewers. At 10, “Chicago P.D.” put up a 1.0/5 and 6.8 million viewers.
ABC was third in ratings with a 0.6/3 and in viewers with 2.4 million. Following an airing of “Toy Story 2,” “Whiskey Cavalier” at 10 settled for a 0.4/2 and 2.5 million viewers.
Fox, Univision and Telemundo tied for fourth in ratings, each with a 0.4/2. Fox was fourth in viewers with 1.6 million, Telemundo was fifth with 1.3 million and Univision was sixth with 1.1 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.3/1 and 774,000 viewers. At 8, the “Riverdale” Season 3 finale got a 0.3/1 and 907,000 viewers. At 9, “Jane the Virgin” had a 0.2/1 and 640,000 viewers.