TV ratings: CBS and ABC split Friday; 'Smallville,' 'Supernatural' steady in returns

Fast National ratings for Friday, April 15, 2011

CBS kept its usual spot on top of Friday's overall ratings even though two of its three shows were in repeats, while ABC snagged a demographic win. "Friday Night Lights" began its final NBC run quietly, "Fringe" was down some and The CW's "Smallville" and "Supernatural" were fairly steady compared to their last original episodes in March.

CBS averaged 6.9 million viewers and a 4.3 rating/8 share in households for the night. NBC (5 million, 3.4/5) narrowly beat ABC (4.9 million, 3.1/5) for second place in viewers. FOX came in fourth with 3.7 million viewers and a 2.3/4, and The CW delivered 2.3 million viewers and a 1.4/2.

None of the networks did much business in the adults 18-49 demo, but ABC led the way with a 1.5. FOX was close behind at 1.4. NBC averaged 1.2 to take third, followed by CBS, 1.0, and The CW, 0.9.

Friday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "Chaos" (5.5 million viewers, 3.4/6 households)
ABC: "Shark Tank" (5.4 million, 3.3/6)
FOX: "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.8 million, 2.3/4)
NBC: "Friday Night Lights" (3.5 million, 2.3/4)
The CW: "Smallville" (2.3 million, 1.4/3)

18-49 leader: "Kitchen Nightmares" and "Shark Tank" tied at 1.5

9 p.m.

CBS: "CSI: NY" rerun (7.3 million, 4.6/8)
NBC: "Dateline" (5.4 million, 3.7/6)
ABC: "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (4.3 million, 2.7/5)
FOX: "Fringe" (3.6 million, 2.2/4)
The CW: "Supernatural" (2.2 million, 1.4/2)

18-49 leader: "Primetime: What Would You Do?" (1.4)

10 p.m.

CBS: "Blue Bloods" rerun (7.9 million, 5.1/9)
NBC: "Dateline" (6 million, 4.1/7)
ABC: "20/20" (5.1 million, 3.4/6)

18-49 leader: "20/20" and "Dateline" tied at 1.5

Ratings information includes live and same-day DVR viewing. All numbers are preliminary and subject to change. Source: The Nielsen Company.

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