NBC’s “Champions” didn’t win anything on Thursday night, when the series premiered to Nielsen numbers that might not even qualify for a participation trophy.
Airing after “Will & Grace,” the 9:30 p.m. sitcom’s debut settled for a 0.8 rating/3 share and 3 million total viewers. At least the 10 o’clock conclusion to NBC’s latest “Chicago Fire”/”Chicago PD” crossover performed well.
CBS topped primetime outright with “The Big Bang Theory” and “Young Sheldon,” ABC’s “TGIT” lineup finished runner-up.
CBS was first in ratings with a 1.6/6 in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in overall viewers with an average of 9 million, according to preliminary numbers. “The Big Bang Theory” at 8 p.m. scored a 2.6/11 and 13.8 million viewers. At 8:30, “Young Sheldon” landed a 2.2/9 and 12.6 million viewers. At 9, “Mom” put up a 1.5/6 and 9.3 million viewers. At 9:30, “Life in Pieces” received a 1.2/5 and 7 million viewers. “S.W.A.T.” at 10 had a 1.0/4 and 5.7 million viewers.
ABC was second in ratings with a 1.2/5 and in viewers with 5.1 million. “Grey’s Anatomy” at 8 posted a 1.7/7 and 7.1 million viewers. At 9, “Scandal” got a 1.1/4 and 4.7 million viewers. “How to Get Away With Murder” at 10 received a 0.9/4 and 3.5 million viewers.
NBC was third in ratings with a 1.1/4 and in viewers with 4.4 million. “Superstore” at 8 had a 1.1/5 and 3.7 million viewers. At 8:30, “A.P. Bio” got a 0.8/3 and 2.6 million viewers. “Will & Grace” at 9 received a 1.1/4 and 4.2 million viewers. After the “Champions”downturn, the special “Fire” episode finished primetime with a 1.3/5 and 6.5 million viewers, posting the show’s highest rating since its September season premiere.
Fox was fourth in ratings with a 0.6/3 and in viewers with 2.4 million. “Gotham” at 8 got a 0.7/3 and 2.4 million viewers. At 9, “Showtime at the Apollo” managed a 0.6/2 and 2.4 million viewers.
Univision and The CW tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.5/2. Univision was fifth in total viewers with 1.57 million, The CW was sixth with 1.54 million.
For The CW, “Supernatural” at 8 had a 0.5/2 and 1.7 million viewers. At 9, “Arrow” got a 0.4/2 and 1.3 million viewers.
Telemundo was seventh in ratings with a 0.4/2 and in viewers with 1.2 million.