TV Ratings: Pre-season football tops 'Big Brother,' wins Thursday for FOX

Fast National ratings for Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011

FOX suffered no loss its first summer Thursday without "So You Think You Can Dance." The network's broadcast of the pre-season match-up between the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers bested all other programming Thursday night.

The NFL pushed FOX to an average 8.9 million viewers and a 5.4 rating/9 share for the night. CBS, down from last week, claimed second with 6.95 million and a 4.4/7. ABC (5.3 million, 3.1/5) took third, with NBC (2.5 million, 1.7/3) in fourth and the CW (1.0 million, 0.7/1) in last.

FOX also took a decided victory in the adults 18-49 demographic, bringing in a 3.2 rating. Its closest competition, CBS, pulled in a 2.0, followed by ABC (1.5), NBC (0.8) and the CW (0.3).
Thursday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

FOX: NFL Pre-Season: New England vs Tampa Bay (8.7 million, 5.3/9)
CBS: "The Big Bang Theory" rerun (7.3 million, 4.7/9)/"Rules of Engagement" rerun (6.5 million, 4.1/7)
ABC: "Wipeout" (6.7 million viewers, 3.6/6 households
NBC: "Community" rerun (2.2 million, 1.5/3)/"Parks and Recreation" rerun (1.8 million, 1.3/2)
The CW: "The Vampire Diaries" rerun (1.1 million, 0.7/1)

18-49 leader: NFL Pre-Season (3.2)

9 p.m.

FOX: NFL Pre-Season: New England vs Tampa Bay (9.1 million, 5.5/9)
CBS: "Big Brother 13" (7.97 million, 4.8/8)
ABC: "Expedition Impossible" (4.6 million, 2.7/4)
NBC: "The Office" rerun (2.5 million, 1.7/3)/"30 Rock" rerun (2.5 million, 1.6/3)
The CW: "Plain Jane" rerun (915,000, 0.6/1)

18-49 leader: NFL Pre-Season (3.3)

10 p.m.

CBS: "The Mentalist" rerun (5.9 million, 3.9/7)
ABC: "Rookie Blue" (4.6 million, 3.1/5)
NBC: "Law & Order: SVU" rerun (3.0 million, 2.1/4)

18-49 leader: "Rookie Blue" and "The Mentalist" (1.3) (tie)

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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