NBC’s biblical offering “A.D.: The Bible Continues” didn’t provide the network with much of a ratings resurrection on Sunday night, dropping 26 percent from its Easter premiere. Broadcasters did face stiff cable competition, however, from the Season 5 premiere of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” the numbers for which will be available when the premium channel releases them.
Meanwhile, CBS won the night in both the key demo and total viewers, according to preliminary numbers.
While CBS’s numbers for the night are more approximate than usual due to overrun from the Masters Golf Tournament, which delayed the network’s primetime slate by 16 minutes, as it currently stands the network holds top honors in the 18-49 demographic with a 1.4 rating/4 share for the night and in total viewers with 10.3 million. With overrun from the Masters, “60 Minutes” enjoyed a considerable boost, posting a 2.1/8 with 12.9 million total viewers. The 8 to 9 p.m. hour, which was occupied by the conclusion of “60 Minutes” and the beginning of “Madam Secretary,” averaged a 1.5/5 with 11.9 million total viewers. From 9 to 10 p.m., with “Madam Secretary” overrun and “The Good Wife,” CBS averaged a 1.2/3 with 9.2 million total viewers. The 10 p.m. hour, which included the conclusion of “The Good Wife” and the bulk of “Battle Creek,” averaged a 0.8/2 and 6.9 million total viewers for the network.
ABC took second place in the key demo and third in total viewers, averaging a 1.2/4 and 4.8 million for the night, respectively. “America’s Funniest Home Videos” at 7 drew a 1.0/4, down 29 percent from its most original airing on March 22, and took 5.4 million total viewers, while “Once Upon a Time” the following hour posted a 1.6/5 with 5 million total viewers. “Secrets & Lies” at 9 held even for a 1.3/4 with 4.7 million total viewers, while “Revenge” ended the night for the network at 10 with a 0.9/3 and 3.9 million total viewers.
Univision was third in ratings and fourth in total viewers with a 1.1/3 and 3 million.
NBC shared fourth place in the ratings with Fox, scoring a 1.0/3, but was second in total viewers with 5 million. “Dateline” at 7 slid 25 percent from last week for a 0.6/2 and had 3.5 million total viewers. Following a repeat of “A.D.: The Bible Continues,” a new episode at 9 posted a 1.7/5, versus the 2.3/7 that last week’s premiere nabbed, and drew 7.6 million total viewers. At 10, “American Odyssey” fell off 27 percent from last week’s debut, grabbing a 0.8/3 with 4.2 million total viewers.
Fox, in fifth place among total viewers with 2.5 million, aired repeats until 8:30, when “Family Guy” posted a 1.5/4, a 12 percent drop from its most recent original in March, and took 3 million total viewers. A special airing of “The Last Man on Earth” at 9 drew a 1.3/4 with 3.2 million total viewers, while a second episode at 9:30 also posted a 1.3/4 and had 3.4 million total viewers.
Telemundo took sixth place for the night with a 0.6/2 and 1.5 million total viewers.