Tuesday Primetime TV Ratings: The Voice Holds Steady, The Conners Drops to Season Low
After a one-week hiatus for nationwide Midterm Elections coverage, most Tuesday night broadcast series returned to the schedule. Industry ratings reports show a familiar pattern: NBC’s The Voice maintained its audience in the key adults 18–49 demographic, while ABC’s The Conners slipped to a new season low. Below is a clear summary of the evening’s ratings performance and what those numbers mean for the networks.
Ratings for broadcast television typically focus on the adults 18–49 demographic, the age group most valued by advertisers. Numbers are presented as a household rating/share in the demo followed by the total audience index. A rating of 1.6 in the 18–49 demo, for example, means that approximately 1.6% of all adults aged 18–49 watching television at that time were tuned to the program. These demo figures are commonly used to compare show performance week to week and to determine whether a series is holding steady, gaining ground, or losing viewers.
NBC’s The Voice scored a 1.6 rating in the 18–49 demo, matching its performance from the previous Tuesday night broadcast. The program also aired its first live results show of the season, a format element that often attracts viewer engagement as fans tune in to learn which contestants advance. Holding steady from week to week can be a positive sign for a long-running competition series, indicating consistent viewer interest.
ABC’s The Conners posted a 1.5 rating in adults 18–49, the show’s lowest rating of the season. The decline of three-tenths from its prior episode suggests that the sitcom faced stiffer competition this week or that viewers shifted to other programming during the timeslot. Season lows are notable because they can affect a network’s decisions about promotion and scheduling.
Below is the detailed breakdown of the evening’s ratings by timeslot. Each entry lists the show, its network, the 18–49 demo rating/share, and the audience index that accompanies the overnight figures.
8:00 p.m.
The Voice (NBC) — 1.6/7 — 8.80
The Conners (ABC) — 1.5/7 — 6.90
NCIS (CBS) — 1.4/6 — 12.33
The Gifted (FOX) — 0.6/3 — 1.97
The Flash (The CW) — 0.6/3 — 1.71
8:30 p.m.
The Kids Are Alright (ABC) — 1.0/5 — 4.70
9:00 p.m.
This Is Us (NBC) — 2.0/8 — 8.46
FBI (CBS) — 1.1/5 — 9.12
Black-ish (ABC) — 1.0/5 — 4.06
Lethal Weapon (FOX) — 0.6/3 — 2.78
Black Lightning (The CW) — 0.3/1 — 0.94
9:30 p.m.
Splitting Up Together (ABC) — 0.7/3 — 2.89
10:00 p.m.
New Amsterdam (NBC) — 1.1/5 — 6.05
NCIS: New Orleans (CBS) — 0.9/4 — 7.54
The Rookie (ABC) — 0.7/3 — 3.96
Interpreting these numbers, NBC’s primetime lineup benefited from strong performances at both 8 p.m. and 9 p.m., with The Voice and This Is Us leading the evening in the demo. CBS’s procedural NCIS continued to deliver a solid audience in total viewers, reflected in its audience index. ABC experienced mixed results: while The Conners hit a season low, comedies and dramas across its schedule remained competitive in their slots. Fox and The CW maintained lower demo shares this evening, consistent with their niche audiences and different programming strategies.
Weekly fluctuations are normal in broadcast television, and a single night rarely determines a show’s future. However, trends measured over several weeks are more indicative of long-term performance. Networks will watch continued demo movement closely as they plan promotion, scheduling, and potential renewals.
If current patterns hold, shows that consistently deliver in the adults 18–49 demo will remain priorities for network advertisers and programmers. For viewers, the significance is simple: ratings influence the longevity and visibility of the series they enjoy.