Thursday Ratings: ABC Tops the Broadcast Nets in Viewership for the Second Presidential Debate

Thursday, October 22, 2020

What follows are the fast affiliate ratings from Nielsen for Thursday, October 22. Note: These ratings are time period based (and are, therefore, only approximate). Keep in mind that the 8 p.m. hour includes the presidential debate on the West Coast (hence the notably higher ratings reported for NBC sitcom “Connecting.” This will come down once the Live+Same Day data is released).

-Total Viewers:
ABC: 7.61 million, Fox: 7.01, NBC: 6.77, CBS: 4.74, CW: 694,000

-Adults 18-49:
Fox: 2.1 rating/10 share, ABC and NBC: 1.6/ 8 each, CBS: 1.0/ 5, CW: 0.2/ 1

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8:00 p.m.

ABC – 20/20: Trump vs. Biden
Viewers: 5.15 million (#2), A18-49: 0.8/ 4/ (#3t)

CBS – Big Brother
Viewers: 4.54 million (#3), A18-49: 1.0/ 6 (#2)

NBC– Connecting
Viewers: 4.09 million (#4), A18-49: 0.8/ 4 (#3t)

Fox – World Series, Game 2
Viewers: 8.01 million (#1), A18-49: 2.2/12 (#1)

CW – Supernatural
Viewers: 997,000 (#5), A18-49: 0.3/ 2 (#5)

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8:30 p.m.

ABC – 20/20: Trump vs. Biden
Viewers: 5.21 million (#2), A18-49: 0.9/ 5 (#3t)

CBS – Big Brother
Viewers: 4.14 million (#4), A18-49: 1.0/ 5 (#2)

NBC– Connecting
Viewers: 4.34 million (#3), A18-49: 0.9/ 5 (#3t)

Fox – Thursday Night Football (New York Giants at Philadelphia)
Viewers: 9.02 million (#1), A18-49: 2.7/14 (#1)

CW – Supernatural
Viewers: 852,000 (#5), A18-49: 0.2/ 1 (#5)

——

9:00 p.m.

ABC – 2nd Presidential Debate
Viewers: 9.56 million (#1), A18-49: 2.0/ 9 (#2)

CBS – 2nd Presidential Debate
Viewers: 4.74 million (#4), A18-49: 1.0/ 5 (#4)

NBC – 2nd Presidential Debate
Viewers: 8.93 million (#2), A18-49: 2.2/10 (#1)

Fox – Thursday Night Football (New York Giants at Philadelphia)
Viewers: 6.47 million (#3), A18-49: 1.9/ 9 (#3)

CW – The Outpost
Viewers: 438,000 (#5), A18-49: 0.1/ 0 (#5)

—–

9:30 p.m.

ABC – 2nd Presidential Debate
Viewers: 9.98 million (#1), A18-49: 2.3/10 (#1)

CBS – 2nd Presidential Debate
Viewers: 4.98 million (#4), A18-49: 1.1/ 5 (#4)

NBC – 2nd Presidential Debate
Viewers: 9.03 million (#2), A18-49: 2.2/10 (#2)

Fox – Thursday Night Football (New York Giants at Philadelphia)
Viewers: 5.95 million (#3), A18-49: 1.8/ 8 (#3)

CW – The Outpost
Viewers: 490,000 (#5), A18-49: 0.1/ 0 (#5)

—–

10:00 p.m.

ABC – 2nd Presidential Debate
Viewers: 9.15 million (#1), A18-49: 2.1/10 (#1)

CBS – 2nd Presidential Debate
Viewers: 4.71 million (#4), A18-49: 1.1/ 5 (#4)

NBC – 2nd Presidential Debate
Viewers: 8.44 million (#2), A18-49: 2.0/ 9 (#2)

Fox – Thursday Night Football (New York Giants at Philadelphia)
Viewers: 6.11 million (#3), A18-49: 1.9/ 9 (#3)

—–

10:30 p.m.

ABC – 2nd Presidential Debate Analysis
Viewers: 6.62 million (#2), A18-49: 1.4/ 7 (#1)

CBS – 2nd Presidential Debate Analysis
Viewers: 3.72 million (#4), A18-49: 0.8/ 4 (#3)

NBC – 2nd Presidential Debate Analysis
Viewers: 5.79 million (#3), A18-49: 1.3/ 7 (#2)

Fox – Thursday Night Football (New York Giants at Philadelphia)
Viewers: 7.13 million (#3), A18-49: 0.1/ 1 (#3)

Source: Nielsen Media Research