CBS edged out NBC for an overall win thanks largely to a rising “Big Brother” on Thursday, according to preliminary numbers.
While, like last Thursday, early numbers were skewed due to local NFL preemptions, preliminary data puts CBS on top. CBS took first place in the key 18-49 demo and narrowly beat NBC for first in total viewers, averaging a 1.4 rating/5 share and 5.74 million total viewers, versus a 1.3/5 and 5.72 million for NBC. Following repeats of “The Big Bang Theory” and “Mom,” “Big Brother” at 9 posted a 2.1/7, up 11 percent from last week, and averaged 6.6 million total viewers, a 9 percent boost over last week. “Under the Dome” the following hour held steady in the demo for a 0.8/3 and climbed 12 percent in total viewers with 4.2 million.
Second-place NBC aired “Food Fighters” at 8, which drew a 1.1/5 with 4.8 million total viewers. A two-hour “Dateline Mystery” at 9 had a 1.4 with 6.2 million total viewers.
ABC and Fox tied for third in the demo, with each network averaging a 0.7/3 for the night, while ABC took third place outright in total viewers with 3.7 million, compared to 2.5 million for Fox. The season finale of “Astronaut Wives Club” at 8 posted a 0.7/3 — down from last week’s 0.9/4, though football preemptions make the week-to-week comparison fuzzy — with 4 million total viewers. “Mistresses” at 9 posted a 0.8/3 with 3.4 million total viewers, while “Rookie Blue” the following hour had a 0.6/2 with 3.7 million total viewers.
Fox aired “Boom” at 8, which drew a 0.7/3 with 2.4 million total viewers, followed by a “Bones” repeat.