TV Ratings: American Idol Rises Slightly While The Big Bang Theory Hits a Season Low
Good news for Fox’s American Idol: ratings in the adults 18-49 demo ticked up this week. The bad news is the show still sits at historically low levels. Even CBS’s juggernaut The Big Bang Theory slid to a season low, making it a rough night across the broadcast networks. Nielsen Media Research provided the official audience estimates, and the numbers underline continued pressure on traditional network programming.
Source: TV By The Numbers
Overview: American Idol earned a 1.6 rating among adults 18-49, up a tenth from last week’s series low of 1.5. Overall viewership and demo performance across the evening reinforced that, while some shows remain audience favorites, many series are operating at much lower levels than in previous seasons.
8:00 PM
CBS – The Big Bang Theory: 3.7 A18-49 rating; 14.17 million viewers (season low in demo)
FOX – Hell’s Kitchen: 1.5 A18-49 rating; 4.21 million viewers
NBC – Hollywood Game Night: 0.9 A18-49 rating; 3.26 million viewers
CW – The Vampire Diaries: 0.7 A18-49 rating; 1.60 million viewers
ABC – Grey’s Anatomy (repeat): 0.6 A18-49 rating; 2.94 million viewers
8:30 PM
CBS – The Millers: 2.0 A18-49 rating; 9.15 million viewers
9:00 PM
CBS – Two and a Half Men: 2.1 A18-49 rating; 8.49 million viewers
ABC – Grey’s Anatomy (new): 2.3 A18-49 rating; 7.47 million viewers
FOX – American Idol: 1.6 A18-49 rating; 7.07 million viewers
NBC – American Comedy Awards (9-11): 1.0 A18-49 rating; 3.15 million viewers
CW – Reign: 0.5 A18-49 rating; 1.47 million viewers
9:30 PM
CBS – Bad Teacher: 1.3 A18-49 rating; 5.84 million viewers
FOX – Surviving Jack: 1.2 A18-49 rating; 4.10 million viewers
10:00 PM
CBS – Elementary: 1.5 A18-49 rating; 7.50 million viewers
ABC – Black Box: 1.1 A18-49 rating; 4.41 million viewers
Below is a more detailed half-hour breakdown compiled by industry tracker Marc Berman. It lists viewers and the adults 18-49 ratings for each half-hour slot, which helps show how audience levels shifted across the evening.
Half Hour Breakdown by Marc Berman
8:00 p.m.
ABC – Grey’s Anatomy (R)
Viewers: 2.88 million (#4), A18-49: 0.6/2 (#5)CBS – The Big Bang Theory
Viewers: 14.17 million (#1), A18-49: 3.7/13 (#1)NBC – Hollywood Game Night
Viewers: 3.26 million (#3), A18-49: 0.9/3 (#3)FOX – Hell’s Kitchen
Viewers: 4.00 million (#2), A18-49: 1.5/5 (#2)CW – The Vampire Diaries
Viewers: 1.62 million (#5), A18-49: 0.7/2 (#5)———-
8:30 p.m.
ABC – Grey’s Anatomy (R)
Viewers: 2.99 million (#4), A18-49: 0.7/2 (tied #4)CBS – The Millers
Viewers: 9.15 million (#1), A18-49: 2.0/6 (#1)NBC – Hollywood Game Night
Viewers: 3.27 million (#3), A18-49: 0.9/3 (#3)FOX – Hell’s Kitchen
Viewers: 4.42 million (#2), A18-49: 1.6/5 (#2)CW – The Vampire Diaries
Viewers: 1.59 million (#5), A18-49: 0.7/2 (#5)———-
9:00 p.m.
ABC – Grey’s Anatomy
Viewers: 7.14 million (#2), A18-49: 2.2/7 (#1)CBS – Two and a Half Men
Viewers: 8.49 million (#1), A18-49: 2.1/6 (#2)NBC – The American Comedy Awards
Viewers: 2.97 million (#4), A18-49: 1.0/3 (#4)FOX – American Idol
Viewers: 7.07 million (#3), A18-49: 1.6/5 (#3)CW – Reign
Viewers: 1.45 million (#5), A18-49: 0.5/2 (#5)———-
9:30 p.m.
ABC – Grey’s Anatomy
Viewers: 7.79 million (#1), A18-49: 2.4/7 (#1)CBS – Bad Teacher
Viewers: 5.84 million (#2), A18-49: 1.3/4 (#2)NBC – The American Comedy Awards
Viewers: 3.12 million (#4), A18-49: 1.0/3 (#4)FOX – Surviving Jack
Viewers: 4.10 million (#3), A18-49: 1.2/3 (#4)CW – Reign
Viewers: 1.49 million (#5), A18-49: 0.5/1 (#5)———-
10:00 p.m.
ABC – Black Box
Viewers: 4.50 million (#2), A18-49: 1.1/3 (#2)CBS – Elementary
Viewers: 7.72 million (#1), A18-49: 1.5/4 (#1)NBC – The American Comedy Awards
Viewers: 3.32 million (#3), A18-49: 1.0/3 (#3)———-
10:30 p.m.
ABC – Black Box
Viewers: 4.32 million (#2), A18-49: 1.1/3 (#2)CBS – Elementary
Viewers: 7.29 million (#1), A18-49: 1.4/4 (#1)NBC – The American Comedy Awards
Viewers: 3.16 million (#3), A18-49: 0.9/3 (#3)Source: Nielsen Media Research
Context and implications: The adults 18-49 demo remains the key benchmark for advertisers and networks. American Idol’s small gain to a 1.6 is notable only because it followed a new series low; the program still trails many prime-time competitors in the demo. The Big Bang Theory, while still drawing the largest total audience of the night with more than 14 million viewers, registering a season-low demo rating signals shifting viewing habits and fragmentation across platforms. Networks will continue to monitor these trends as they evaluate programming strategies for the remainder of the season.