America’s Got Talent and Big Brother finales which aired Wednesday night, each improved on their final episodes vs. last year. VIA TVByTheNumbers
“AGT” scored a 2.9 rating among adults 18-49 and 15.36 million viewers. That’s up a tenth of a point in the 18-49 demographic and almost a million viewers (vs. 14.41 million) from the 2016 finale. It was the show’s highest-rated finale since 2011 and most-watched finale since 2010.
“Big Brother” (2.1) was also up a tenth vs. last season’s finale for CBS, and its 6.66 million viewers was about 340,000 more than last year.
Tuesday’s America’s Got Talent Live Show Finale adjusted up to a 3.0 in the demo, which is just phenomenal.
AGT only airs once a year. The finale is a major television end of summer event. Shows like The Voice and Dancing with the Stars become rote when the networks air multiple cycles in a year. Viewers stop anticipating the new season when the show never really goes away. Fans looked forward to January and the new season of American Idol because it left the airwaves for 8 months. The May finale was a ritual. Hopefully NBC doesn’t get any bright ideas–like deciding to move AGT to the regular season. AGT IS summer. It’s wise not to mess with a tradition.
8 p.m.
America’s Got Talent (NBC) (8-10 p.m.) – F 2.9/11 15.36
Big Brother (CBS) (8-10 p.m.) – F 2.1/8 6.66
Masterchef (FOX) (8-10 p.m.) – F 1.1/4 3.91
The Goldbergs (ABC) – R 0.7/3 2.89
Arrow (The CW) – R 0.2/1 0.79
8:30 p.m.
Speechless (ABC) – R 0.6/3 2.40
9 p.m.
Modern Family (ABC) – R 0.7/3 2.63
Supernatural (The CW) – R 0.2/1 0.77
9:30 p.m.
American Housewife (ABC) – R 0.6/2 2.23
10 p.m.
The Good Place (NBC) (10-11 p.m.) – P 1.4/5 5.79
Salvation (CBS) – F 0.6/3 3.20
Designated Survivor (ABC) – R 0.5/2 2.41