Ratings: ‘Blacklist’ Slips to Series Low as Midseason ‘Bones’ Premiere Rebounds a Bit

CBS finishing first on Thursday was pretty much a foregone conclusion, with March Madness coverage preempting its regular schedule. Still, that happened.

ABC finished second on the night, which also saw Fox’s “Bones” return up from its last original. That said, the December “Bones” fall finale had matched a series low.

Speaking of series lows, NBC’s “The Blacklist” slipped to a new valley of its own in primetime. However, the James Spader drama has been regularly growing by the biggest percentages of any Thursday show across the Big 4, last week growing by 75 percent in the key demo in Live + 3 Day viewing.

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CBS was first in ratings with a 2.4 rating/8 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 7.8 million, according to preliminary numbers. Though due to the nature of live sports, fast nationals for CBS are approximate. NCAA tourney coverage at 8 p.m. received a 2.0/7 and 7.1 million viewers. The 90-minute period beginning at 9:30 scored a 2.8/9 and and 8.5 million viewers — both highs on the night.

ABC was second in ratings with a 1.9/6 and in viewers with 7.3 million. “Grey’s Anatomy” at 8 posted a 2.2/8 and 8.2 million viewers. “Scandal” at 9 earned a 2.3/7 and 8.1 million viewers. “American Crime” at 10 had a 1.2/4 and 5.5 million viewers.

NBC, Fox and Univision all tied for third in ratings, each with a 1.1. NBC and Fox had a 4 share. NBC was third in total viewers with 5.9 million viewers, Fox was fourth with 4.7 million, Univision was fifth with 3 million.

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For NBC, “Dateline Thursday: Real Blacklists” at 8 got a 1.0/4 and 6.3 million viewers. “The Blacklist” at 9 ticked down to a 1.6/5 and 8 million viewers. “The Slap” at 10 had a 0.7/2 and 3.4 million viewers.

For Fox, “Bones” at 8 received a 1.3/4 and 5.7 million viewers. “Backstrom” at 9 got a 0.9/3 and 3.6 million viewers.

Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.7/2 and in viewers with 1.5 million.

The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in viewers with 684,000, airing entirely reruns.