ABC scored a primetime touchdown with its coverage of Day 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft on Thursday night, rising 26% in total viewers compared to the first night of last year’s broadcast, which aired on Fox.
In 2018, Fox carried the Big 4’s coverage of the NFL draft — which is also simulcast on ESPN and NFL Network — and scored a 1.2 rating among the sought-after adults 18-49 demographic and 3.864 million viewers on Day 1. ABC’s first evening covering this year’s draft matched that key demo number, but rose by 1 million total viewers.
Meanwhile, Batman-prequel series “Gotham” ended its five-season run on Fox with the long-awaited introduction of Batman himself — and a series low 0.5 rating, which is down just slightly from the 0.6 the drama was averaging this season.
Due to the nature of live television, the below numbers for ABC are subject to adjustment.
ABC was first in ratings with a 1.2 rating/6 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and second in total viewers with an average of 4.9 million, according to preliminary numbers. Those numbers were put up by the 2019 NFL Draft.
CBS was second in ratings with a 1.1/5 and first in viewers with 7.7 million. At 8 p.m., “Big Bang Theory” scored a 1.7/9 and 11.5 million viewers. At 8:30, “Young Sheldon” earned a 1.4/7 and 10.3 million viewers. “Mom” at 9 p.m. hit a 1.1/5 and 8 million viewers. At 9:30, “Life in Pieces” received a 0.8/4 and 5.8 million viewers. At 10 p.m., “S.W.A.T.” had a 0.7/3 and 5.1 million viewers.
Telemundo was third in ratings with 0.8/4 and in fifth in viewers with 2.3 million.
Fox was fourth in ratings with a 0.6/3 and third in viewers with 2.6 million. At 8 p.m., the series finale of “Gotham” put up a 0.5/3 and 2.2 million viewers. “The Orville” ended its second season at 9 p.m. with a 0.7/3 and 2.9 million viewers.
NBC was fifth in ratings with a 0.5/3 and fourth in viewers with 2.5 million. “Superstore” at 8 p.m. got a 0.7/4 and 2.9 million viewers. At 8:30 p.m., “A.P. Bio” managed a 0.4/2 and 1.7 million viewers. At 9 p.m., “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” had a 0.5/2 and 1.7 million viewers. “Abby’s” at 9:30 p.m. settled for a 0.3/2 and 1.5 million viewers. “Law & Order: SVU” closed primetime with a 0.7/3 and 3.6 million viewers.
Univision was sixth in ratings with a 0.4/2 and in viewers with 1.2 million.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in viewers with 1 million. At 8 p.m., the 14th season finale of “Supernatural” got a 0.3/1 and 1.3 million viewers. At 9 p.m., “In the Dark” closed the night with a 0.2/1 and 769,000 viewers.