NBC stole a primetime ratings win Tuesday with “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” In terms of total viewers, however, NBC settled for third.
CBS was first in viewers, despite airing all reruns and finishing fourth in the key ratings demo.
NBC was first in ratings with a 0.8 rating/4 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic, but third in total viewers with an average of 4.5 million, according to preliminary numbers. The annual re-airing of “The Grinch” at 8 p.m. earned a 1.1/6 and 5.3 million viewers. A “How to Train Your Dragon” special at 8:30 had a 0.9/4 and 3.9 million viewers. “The Voice” at 9 received a 1.0/5 and 6.4 million viewers. “Making It” at 10 managed a 0.5/3 and 2.7 million viewers.
ABC and Fox tied for second in ratings, both with a 0.7/4. ABC was second in total viewers with 5.7 million. Fox was fourth in total viewers with 3.4 million.
For ABC, Brad Paisley’s special at 8 drew a 0.8/4 and 6.3 million viewers. The two-hour “CMA Country Christmas” special starting at 9 averaged a 0.7/4 and 5.1 million viewers.
For Fox, “The Resident” at 8 got a 0.8/4 and 4.2 million viewers. At 9, “Empire” had a 0.7/3 and 2.6 million viewers.
CBS was fourth in ratings with a 0.6/3, but first in viewers with 5.7 million.
Univision and The CW tied for fifth in ratings, both with a 0.4/2. Univision was fifth in total viewers with 1.4 million, The CW was sixth with 1.08 million.
For The CW, “The Flash” at 8 had a 0.5/2 and 1.3 million viewers. At 9, “Arrow” got a 0.3/1 and 831,000 viewers.
Telemundo was seventh in ratings with a 0.3/2 and in viewers with 1.05 million.