Fox and ABC shared Thursday night leadership. Fox won among total viewers (8.22 million) and adults 25-54 (2.5 rating/7 share) as the five remaining contestants performed on a 2-hour “American Idol”.
ABC led among adults 18-34 (1.3/6). While the second season finale of “How to Get Away with Murder” drew its most-watched telecast (in live-plus-same-day) in five weeks, the drama has experienced large erosion compared to its first season finale telecast from
Feb. 26, 2015 (-41 percent in total viewers from 8.99 million, -50 percent in adults 18-49 rating from 2.8) and to its second season midseason finale from Nov. 19, 2015 (-26 percent in total viewers from 7.19 million, -39 percent in adults 18-49 from a 2.3 rating)
ABC and Fox tied in adults 18-49 rating (1.7) but ABC earned a very slight edge in adults 18-49 share (6.2 vs. Fox’s 6.0).
The start of the NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Tournament on CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV showed audience declines from recent years’ starts.
On CBS, the averages of both prime time game telecasts on Day 1 of the tournament:
3/17/16 2.5 rating/5 share, 3.835 million viewers
3/19/15 3.5 rating/7 share, 5.487 million viewers
That represents about a 30 percent decline in each figure (households and total audience) from one year ago, when the then-undefeated Kentucky Wildcats were featured on the night; this year’s Wildcats — also featured on this night — were 27-8 during the season. CBS did increase 2 percent from prime time on Day 1 (3.731 million viewers) on Mar. 20, 2014.
Counting the four “First Four” games on truTV from Mar. 15-16 but not factoring the two afternoon CBS games from Thursday Mar. 17, the tournament has so far averaged 8.411 million total viewers across the four networks: -15 percent from 3/19/15 (9.929 million), -8 percent from 3/20/14 (9.125 million) and -7 percent from 3/21/13 (8.949 million).
Here is the viewer rundown of the twelve games that aired on the three cable networks during the day:
TBS
Iowa State vs. Iona (1:52-4:18) 641,000
Purdue vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (4:34-7:04) 1.786 million
North Carolina vs. Florida Gulf Coast (7:04-9:37) 3.588 million
USC vs. Providence (9:53-12:06) 1.812 million
TNT
Colorado vs. UConn (1:22-3:51) 979,000
Kansas vs. Austin Peay (4:10-6:36) 1.075 million
Miami (FL) vs. Buffalo (6:36-9:14) 1.487 million
Arizona vs. Wichita State (9:32-12:04) 2.609 million
truTV
Texas Tech vs. Butler (12:30-2:47) 568,000
Virginia vs. Hampton (3:05-5:39) 409,000
Utah vs. Fresno State (8:13-10:28) 928,000
Seton Hall vs. Gonzaga (10:47-1:06) 1.482 million
For mobile users, you may scroll this table horizontally.
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Thursday, March 17, 2016 | |||||
 |
PROGRAM | HH/Share | Viewers (000) |
Adults 18-34 |
Adults 18-49 |
Adults 25-54 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8-11 | Network Average | 4.5/8 | 6477 | 1.3/6 | 1.7/6 | 2.1/6 |
| 8:00 | Grey’s Anatomy | 5.4/10 | 7830 | 1.6/8 | 2.1/8 | 2.6/8 |
| 9:00 | Scandal | 4.4/8 | 6307 | 1.1/5 | 1.6/5 | 2.0/6 |
| 10:00 | How to Get Away with Murder (f) | 3.8/7 | 5293 | 1.0/5 | 1.4/5 | 1.8/6 |
 |
PROGRAM | HH/Share | Viewers (000) |
Adults 18-34 |
Adults 18-49 |
Adults 25-54 |
| 8-11 | Network Average | 2.7/5 | 3852 | 0.9/4 | 1.3/5 | 1.6/5 |
| 7:00 | NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball First Round Indiana vs. Chattanooga (s) | 2.6/5 | 3959 | 0.7/4 | 1.1/5 | 1.4/5 |
| 9:36 | College Basketball Bridge (s) | 2.6/5 | 4040 | 0.8/4 | 1.3/5 | 1.5/4 |
| 9:50 | NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball First Round Kentucky vs. Stony Brook (s) (thru 12:07am) | 2.4/5 | 3710 | 0.8/4 | 1.2/4 | 1.4/5 |
 |
PROGRAM | HH/Share | Viewers (000) |
Adults 18-34 |
Adults 18-49 |
Adults 25-54 |
| 8-11 | Network Average | 2.4/4 | 3528 | 0.3/2 | 0.7/2 | 1.0/3 |
| 8:00 | You, Me and the Apocalypse | 1.9/3 | 2762 | 0.3/1 | 0.6/2 | 0.8/3 |
| 9:00 | The Blacklist (r) | 1.8/3 | 2723 | 0.3/1 | 0.5/2 | 0.7/2 |
| 10:00 | Shades of Blue | 3.4/6 | 5009 | 0.5/2 | 1.0/3 | 1.4/4 |
 |
PROGRAM | HH/Share | Viewers (000) |
Adults 18-34 |
Adults 18-49 |
Adults 25-54 |
| 8-10 | Network Average | 5.0/9 | 8224 | 1.2/5 | 1.7/6 | 2.5/7 |
| 8:00 | American Idol | 5.0/9 | 8224 | 1.2/5 | 1.7/6 | 2.5/7 |
 |
PROGRAM | HH/Share | Viewers (000) |
Adults 18-34 |
Adults 18-49 |
Adults 25-54 |
| 8-10 | Network Average | 0.7/1 | 1023 | 0.2/1 | 0.3/1 | 0.4/1 |
| 8:00 | DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (r) | 0.8/1 | 1221 | 0.3/1 | 0.4/1 | 0.5/1 |
| 9:00 | The 100 (r) | 0.5/1 | 825 | 0.2/1 | 0.2/1 | 0.3/1 |
 |
PROGRAM | HH/Share | Viewers (000) |
Adults 18-34 |
Adults 18-49 |
Adults 25-54 |
| 8-11 | Network Average | 1.1/2 | 1891 | 0.7/3 | ||
| 7:00 | Un Camino Hacia El Destino | 1.0/2 | 1834 | 0.7/3 | ||
| 8:01 | Sueño de Amor | 0.9/2 | 1723 | 0.7/3 | ||
| 9:01 | Pasion y Poder | 1.2/2 | 2062 | 0.8/3 | ||
| 10:04 | El Hotel de Los Secretos | 1.1/2 | 1827 | 0.7/3 | ||
Sub-Demo Breakdowns – Thursday 3/17/16
“Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
Women 18-34: 2.4/11
Men 18-34: 0.9/5
Women 18-49: 3.1/11
Men 18-49: 1.1/4
“Scandal” (ABC)
Women 18-34: 1.6/7
Men 18-34: 0.7/3
Women 18-49: 2.4/8
Men 18-49: 0.8/3
“How to Get Away with Murder” (ABC)
Women 18-34: 1.4/6
Men 18-34: 0.6/3
Women 18-49: 2.1/7
Men 18-49: 0.7/3
“NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball First Round: Indiana vs. Chattanooga” (CBS)
Women 18-34: 0.6/3
Men 18-34: 0.9/5
Women 18-49: 0.8/3
Men 18-49: 1.3/6
“NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball First Round: Kentucky vs. Stony Brook” (CBS)
Women 18-34: 0.5/2
Men 18-34: 1.0/5
Women 18-49: 0.9/3
Men 18-49: 1.5/6
“You, Me and the Apocalypse” (NBC)
Women 18-34: 0.4/2
Men 18-34: 0.2/1
Women 18-49: 0.7/2
Men 18-49: 0.5/2
“Shades of Blue” (NBC)
Women 18-34: 0.6/3
Men 18-34: 0.3/1
Women 18-49: 1.2/4
Men 18-49: 0.7/3
“American Idol” (Fox)
Women 18-34: 1.6/7
Men 18-34: 0.8/4
Women 18-49: 2.2/7
Men 18-49: 1.2/4
“Vikings” (History)
Women 18-34: 0.32
Men 18-34: 0.40
Women 18-49: 0.50
Men 18-49: 0.73
“Colony” (USA)
Women 18-34: 0.20
Men 18-34: 0.30
Women 18-49: 0.30
Men 18-49: 0.38
“Baskets” (FX)
Women 18-34: 0.18
Men 18-34: 0.15
Women 18-49: 0.20
Men 18-49: 0.24
Cable Rankings – Thursday 3/17/16
What follows are the top 20 most-watched shows in prime time on cable for Thursday, March 17:
- “NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball First Round: East Region: (#1) North Carolina vs. (#16) Florida Gulf Coast” (TNT, 7:04-9:37 p.m., 2.18 household rating): 3.588 million viewers (1.44 adults 18-49 rating)
- “The O’Reilly Factor” (Fox News Channel, 8-9 p.m.): 3.205 (0.28)
- “NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball First Round: South Region: (#6) Arizona vs. (#11) Wichita State” (TNT, 9:32 p.m.-12:04 a.m., 1.56 household rating): 2.609 million viewers (1.10 adults 18-49 rating)
- “The Kelly File” (Fox News Channel, 9-10 p.m.): 2.426 (0.25)
- “Flip or Flop” (HGTV, 9-9:30 p.m.): 2.361 (0.59)
- “Hannity” (Fox News Channel, 10-11 p.m.): 2.356 (0.28)
- “WWE SmackDown” (USA, 8-10 p.m., 1.48 household rating): 2.260 million viewers (0.68 adults 18-49 rating)
- “Vikings” (History, 10-11:01 p.m.): 2.133 (0.62)
- “American Dad” (Adult Swim, 10:30-11 p.m.): 1.983 (0.90)
- “NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Bridge” (TBS, 9:37-9:53 p.m., 1.21 household rating): 1.977 million viewers (0.81 adults 18-49 rating)
- “House Hunters International” (HGTV, 10:30-11 p.m.): 1.975 (0.40)
- “NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Bridge” (TNT, 9:14-9:32 p.m., 1.18 household rating): 1.957 million viewers (0.82 adults 18-49 rating)
- “House Hunters” (HGTV, 10-10:30 p.m.): 1.924 (0.43)
- “Flip or Flop” (HGTV, 9:30-10 p.m.): 1.918 (0.47)
- “NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball First Round: East Region: (#8) USC vs. (#9) Providence” (TBS, 9:53 p.m.-12:06 a.m., 1.17 household rating): 1.812 million viewers (0.76 adults 18-49 rating)
- “American Dad” (Adult Swim, 10-10:30 p.m.): 1.797 (0.80)
- “Flip or Flop” (HGTV, 8:30-9 p.m.): 1.706 (0.42)
- “60 Days In” (A&E, 10:01-11:02 p.m.): 1.618 (0.68)
- “The First 48” (A&E, 9-10:01 p.m.): 1.548 (0.55)
- “Flip or Flop” (HGTV, 8-8:30 p.m.): 1.512 (0.37)
- “NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball First Round: South Region: (#3) Miami (FL) vs. (#14) Buffalo” (TNT, 6:36-9:14 p.m., 0.94 household rating): 1.487 million viewers (0.58 adults 18-49 rating)
- “NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball First Round: Midwest Region: (#6) Seton Hall vs. (#11) Gonzaga” (truTV, 10:47 p.m.-1:06 a.m., 0.94 household rating): 1.482 million viewers (0.58 adults 18-49 rating)
- “The Rachel Maddow Show” (MSNBC, 9-10 p.m.): 1.453 (0.21)
- “Project Runway All-Stars” (Lifetime, 9-10:02 p.m.): 1.441 (0.37)
- “Beat Bobby Flay” (Food Network, 10-10:30 p.m.): 1.361 (0.39)
- “Cooks vs. Cons” (Food Network, 9-10 p.m.): 1.278 (0.37)
- “Chopped” (Food Network, 8-9 p.m.): 1.239 (0.37)
- “Colony” (USA, 10-11:02 p.m.): 1.193 (0.34)
- “Top Chef” (Bravo, 9-10:02 p.m.): 1.169 (0.46)
- “Anderson Cooper 360” (CNN, 8-9 p.m.): 1.141 (0.20)
- “Anderson Cooper 360” (CNN, 9-10 p.m.): 1.114 (0.24)
- “All In with Chris Hayes” (MSNBC, 8-9 p.m.): 1.113 (0.16)
- “CNN Tonight” (CNN, 10-11 p.m.): 1.089 (0.25)
- “Motives & Murders: Cracking the Case” (ID, 9-10 p.m.): 1.054 (0.23)
- “House of Horrors: Kidnapped” (ID, 10-10:30 p.m.): 0.951 (0.26)
- “NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball First Round: Midwest Region: (#3) Utah vs. (#14) Fresno State” (truTV, 8:13-10:28 p.m., 0.56 household rating): 0.928 million viewers (0.30 adults 18-49 rating)
- “Catfish: The TV Show” (MTV, 9-10 p.m.): 0.766 (0.44)
- “My 600 Lb. Life-Super Sized” (TLC, 8-9 p.m.): 0.735 (0.21)
- “NCAA Div. I Men’s Basketball Bridge” (truTV, 10:28-10:47 p.m., 0.44 household rating): 0.706 million viewers (0.25 adults 18-49 rating)
- “The Real World: Go Big or Go Home” (MTV, 10:00-11:02 p.m.): 0.551 (0.31)
- “Baskets” (FX, 10-10:32 p.m.): 0.500 (0.22)
- “Workaholics” (Comedy Central, 10:00-10:30 p.m.): 0.479 (0.31)
- “Mary Mary” (WE-TV, 9-10 p.m.): 0.477 (0.19)
- “Party Down South” (CMT, 9-10 p.m.): 0.455 (0.22)
- “Redneck Island” (CMT, 10-11 p.m.): 0.377 (0.16)
- “Idiotsitter” (Comedy Central, 10:30-11 p.m.): 0.310 (0.18)
Source: Live+Same Day data, Nielsen Media Research
