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Thursday Final Nationals: Double-Digit Year-to-Year Declines for NCAA Tournament Day 1 on CBS and Turner Sports

'How to Get Away with Murder' Reaches 5-Week High in Season Finale

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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.























Programming Insider Thursday, March 17, 2016
ABC 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
CBS 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
NBC 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
FOX 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
CW 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
UNI 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:


  1. “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)

  2. “The O’Reilly Factor” (Fox News Channel, 8-9 p.m.): 3.205 (0.28)

  3. “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)

  4. “The Kelly File” (Fox News Channel, 9-10 p.m.): 2.426 (0.25)

  5. “Flip or Flop” (HGTV, 9-9:30 p.m.): 2.361 (0.59)

  6. “Hannity” (Fox News Channel, 10-11 p.m.): 2.356 (0.28)

  7. “WWE SmackDown” (USA, 8-10 p.m., 1.48 household rating): 2.260 million viewers (0.68 adults 18-49 rating)

  8. “Vikings” (History, 10-11:01 p.m.): 2.133 (0.62)

  9. “American Dad” (Adult Swim, 10:30-11 p.m.): 1.983 (0.90)

  10. “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)

  11. “House Hunters International” (HGTV, 10:30-11 p.m.): 1.975 (0.40)

  12. “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)

  13. “House Hunters” (HGTV, 10-10:30 p.m.): 1.924 (0.43)

  14. “Flip or Flop” (HGTV, 9:30-10 p.m.): 1.918 (0.47)

  15. “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)

  16. “American Dad” (Adult Swim, 10-10:30 p.m.): 1.797 (0.80)

  17. “Flip or Flop” (HGTV, 8:30-9 p.m.): 1.706 (0.42)

  18. “60 Days In” (A&E, 10:01-11:02 p.m.): 1.618 (0.68)

  19. “The First 48” (A&E, 9-10:01 p.m.): 1.548 (0.55)

  20. “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

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Written by Douglas Pucci

Douglas Pucci (a.k.a. “Son of the Bronx”) has worked with Mr. Berman for more than a decade. A Bronx native, NYU graduate and once-intern for VH1's "Pop Up Video," Pucci went on to design, build and maintain websites for various non-profit organizations in his hometown of New York City. He also contributes to the sports website Awful Announcing.

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    • SpongeBob (Nickelodeon, 3/17 3:30-4:00 p.m.) 1.708 million viewers, 0.41 adults 18-49 rating

      SpongeBob (Nickelodeon, 3/17 4:00-4:30 p.m.) 1.829 million viewers, 0.46 adults 18-49 rating

    • Chain Reaction (GSN, 3/17 3:00-3:30 p.m.) 283,000 viewers; 72,000 adults 18-49

      Chain Reaction (GSN, 3/17 3:30-4:00 p.m.) 308,000 viewers; 78,000 adults 18-49

      Deal or No Deal (GSN, 3/17 4:00-5:00 p.m.) 304,000 viewers; 64,000 adults 18-49

      Deal or No Deal (GSN, 3/17 5:00-6:00 p.m.) 384,000 viewers; 77,000 adults 18-49

  4. Thank you very much Douglas! Cannot wait to see ratings for new episodes of Idiotest and Skin Wars soon!