TV Ratings: The X Factor Holds Steady as Thursday Lineup Competes for Viewers
Ratings for Thursday’s broadcast lineup are in, according to TVByTheNumbers. Fox’s The X Factor continues to perform solidly, holding audience attention as the fall broadcast season settles in. With the live shows approaching, the key challenge now will be whether the program’s contestants can capture viewers’ imaginations and push the numbers higher. It’s increasingly clear that success will depend on standout contestants as much as on the judges; the show’s brand and performers, rather than any single personality, need to be the primary draw.
For the night, Fox’s The X Factor posted a 3.8 adults 18-49 rating. That figure represents a modest 3% dip from the prior week. If historical patterns hold, preliminary ratings often tick up when final, consolidated numbers are released, so that slight decline may narrow in later adjustments.
An average of 11 million viewers tuned in to The X Factor last night. That viewership level keeps the series competitive in prime time and underscores its relevance in the key adults 18-49 demographic advertisers care about most.
Below is the hour-by-hour breakdown for Thursday night, showing how each network and series performed in the early ratings snapshot:
8:00
CBS The Big Bang Theory 4.4/13 13.63
FOX The X Factor 3.5/10 10.59
NBC Community 1.5/5 3.37
ABC Charlie’s Angels 1.2/4 5.93
CW Vampire Diaries 1.2/3 2.55
8:30
CBS How To Be A Gentleman 2.5/7 7.82
NBC Parks & Recreation 1.9/5 4.13
9:00
FOX The X Factor 4.1/10 11.82
NBC The Office 3.1/8 5.71
ABC Grey’s Anatomy 3.0/8 8.50
CBS Person Of Interest 2.5/6 11.46
CW The Secret Circle 0.8/
The night shows a familiar pattern: sitcoms and established franchises continue to draw steady audiences, while newer or retooled shows face tougher competition in the same slots. The Big Bang Theory remains a strong performer in the 8:00 hour, leading with a 4.4 rating in adults 18-49 and holding a sizable audience overall. The X Factor’s two entries across the evening reflect its multi-hour format and explain why its cumulative average reaches roughly 11 million viewers.
At 9:00, The X Factor’s 4.1/10 in the adults 18-49 metric is a solid prime-time result, especially against network staples like The Office and Grey’s Anatomy. Person of Interest showed respectable total viewers while scoring lower in the demo than the top comedy and reality entries. The Secret Circle’s 0.8 reflects the ongoing challenge for smaller networks and newer dramas to build immediate mass audiences against established programming.
Looking ahead, several dynamics will determine whether these ratings trend up or down in coming weeks: the momentum generated by The X Factor contestants during the live rounds; the ability of serialized dramas and comedies to retain weekly viewers; and any schedule shifts or special programming that could affect audience flow. For The X Factor specifically, casting that produces memorable performances and moments will be crucial if the show hopes to expand its share of the adults 18-49 demographic and increase its overall viewership.
In short, Thursday’s preliminary ratings show The X Factor holding steady in a crowded night of programming. Final adjusted numbers may change slightly, but the snapshot indicates the series remains a key player in primetime and that its future ratings will depend heavily on the quality of its on-air talent and the excitement of its live performances.