Ratings: ‘America’s Got Talent’ Defeats ESPYs

Best-in-sports awards score 5.5 million total viewers — 29 percent lower from last year’s Caitlyn Jenner-boosted version

AGT
AMERICA'S GOT TALENT — "CBS Radford Auditions" — Pictured: Cecile & Mighty — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC)

Apparently, America would rather watch an amateur talent competition than an awards show celebrating the best athletes on the planet.

NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” topped ABC’s ESPY Awards last night. NBC walked away with an outright primetime victory.

The ESPYs dropped 29 percent in total viewers and 27 percent in the key 18-49 demo.

NBC was first in ratings with a 1.9 rating/8 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 9.7 million, according to preliminary numbers. “AGT” at 8 p.m. earned a 2.3/9 and 11.4 million viewers. “The Night Shift” at 10 landed a season-high 1.3/5 — up 18 percent from last night — and 6.3 million viewers. That “Night Shift” overall eyeball count is best in more than a year.

ABC was second in ratings with a 1.6/6 and in viewers with 5.5 million, airing just the ESPYS.

CBS was third in ratings with a 1.0/4 and in viewers with 4 million. “Big Brother” at 8 posted a 1.7/7 and 5.9 million viewers. Following a rerun, “American Gothic” at 10 got 0.5/2 and 2.8 million viewers.

Fox was fourth in ratings with a 0.9/4 and in viewers with 3.1 million. “MasterChef” at 8 received a 1.1/5 and 3.6 million viewers. “Wayward Pines” at 9 had a 0.8/3 and 2.5 million viewers.

Univision was fifth in ratings with a 0.7/3 and in viewers with 1.8 million.

Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.6/2 and in viewers with 1.5 million.

The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.4/2 and in viewers with 1.3 million. The season premiere of “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” at 8 got a 0.4/2 and 1.5 million viewers. “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” at 9 received a 0.4/1 and 1.2 million viewers.

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