Ratings: ‘Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks’ Blows Up on NBC

It’s the most-watched edition in six years

Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular - Season 2018
Craig Blankenhorn/NBC

NBC’s annual “Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular” exploded on Wednesday, growing 17 percent in viewers from 2017 and reaching a six-year high.

The celebration of America’s birthday easily beat everything else on broadcast’s primetime, including a new “Big Brother.”

CBS finished in second place last night, per Nielsen.

NBC was first in ratings with a 1.1 rating/7 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 6.6 million, according to preliminary numbers. The fireworks special from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. earned a 1.2/8 and 7.5 million viewers. A rebroadcast aired after.

CBS was second in ratings with a 0.7/4 and in viewers with 4.2 million. After a repeat, “Big Brother” at 9 had a 0.9/5 and 3.9 million viewers. “Code Black” at 10 got a 0.6/3 and 4.9 million viewers.

ABC, Fox and Telemundo all tied for third in ratings, each with a 0.4/2. ABC was third in total viewers with 1.8 million, Fox was fourth with 1.5 million, Telemundo was sixth with 939,000. Both English-language networks aired all reruns on the holiday.

Univision was sixth in ratings with a 0.3/2 fifth and in viewers with 1 million.

The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.1/1 and in viewers with 693,000. The network aired its third-annual Howie Mandel stand-up special, which averaged those lackluster numbers.

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