Primetime Ratings Thursday: Fox Beats Debate With Football

NFL
(Image credit: NFL)

Fox had the top score in Thursday primetime, with Thursday Night Football giving the network the win. Fox had a 2.1 in viewers 18-49, per the Nielsen overnights, and a 10 share. The other broadcasters had the debate between President Trump and Joe Biden. ABC and NBC were runners-up at 1.6/8, while CBS posted a 1.0/5.

Fox had Giants-Eagles across prime. The network had MLB playoffs the Thursday before. The Thursday before that, Buccaneers-Bears got a 3.0 on Fox. 

ABC had 20/20: Trump vs. Biden at 0.8 and then a 1.9 from 9 to 11, including the debate. 

NBC had a debate preview at 0.8 and a 1.95 from 9 to 11, rounding up to a 2.0. 

CBS had Big Brother up 11% to 1.0 and a 1.1 from 9 to 11. 

Univision got a 0.4/2 and Telemundo a 0.3/2. Univision had Destino 2020 Presenta: El Debate Final across prime. On Telemundo it was Decision 2020 and the debate. 

The CW got a 0.2/1. Supernatural got a 0.3 and The Outpost a 0.1, both shows flat. 

Michael Malone

Michael Malone, senior content producer at B+C/Multichannel News, covers network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television. He hosts the podcasts Busted Pilot, about what’s new in television, and Series Business, a chat with the creator of a new program, and writes the column “The Watchman.” He joined B+C in 2005. His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Playboy and New York magazine.