The “Under the Dome” series finale was a bit of a dog last night, down 56 percent in the key 18-49 demographic versus last summer’s Season 2 ending episode.
To be fair, however, Season 2 of “Dome” — featuring the exploits of Truman, pictured above — ended on the first Monday of the fall season, when viewing levels would be higher. Even more importantly, it didn’t go up against the big NFL Kickoff game, which last night’s hour had the displeasure of tackling.
NBC was a runaway winner on Thursday, as one would expect. Though due to the nature of live sports, fast national numbers for the network are approximate and likely to adjust up. Earlier on Friday, TheWrap reported that the NFL’s first regular season game matched its best-ever overnight rating, which you can read about in depth here.
NBC was first in ratings with a 8.8 rating/29 share in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic and in total viewers with an average of 23.9 million, according to preliminary numbers. The “NFL Kickoff Show” at 8 p.m. posted a 5.4/21 and 16.8 million viewers. The “Pre-Kick” show at 8:30 earned an 8.9/30 and 25.7 million viewers. The Patriots-Steelers game itself at 9 scored a 9.6/30 and 25.1 million viewers.
CBS was second in ratings with a 1.3/4 and in viewers with 5.6 million. Following reruns, “Big Brother” at 9 had a 1.9/6 and 6.1 million viewers. “Under the Dome” at 10 got a 0.8/3 and 4.3 million viewers.
Univision was third in ratings with a 1.0/3 and in viewers with 2.6 million.
ABC and Telemundo tied for fourth in ratings, both with a 0.6/2. ABC was third in total viewers with 2.9 million, airing just repeats; Telemundo was sixth with 1.6 million.
Fox was sixth in ratings with a 0.5/2 and fifth in viewers with 2 million. “Boom” at 8 received a 0.5/2 — down two-tenths of a point from its last original — and 1.9 million viewers. A repeat followed.
The CW was seventh in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in viewers with 708,000. The “Beauty & the Beast” season finale at 8 had a 0.2/1 and 806,000 viewers. A rerun aired after.