TV ratings: 'Big Brother' and CBS lead an NFL-inflated Thursday

Fast National ratings for Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012

FOX aired an NFL preseason game in primetime Thursday night, giving the network a boost over its usual summer numbers. NFL games in a few local markets also gave a bump to NBC and CBS. The latter led the night in viewers thanks also to "Big Brother" and "The Big Bang Theory."

ABC, meanwhile, debuted a cooking competition called "Time Machine Chefs," although not that many people noticed. Nor did many people tune into The CW's singing competition "The Next."

CBS averaged 6.25 million viewers and a 4.1 rating/7 share in households for the night, pending updates for the NFL. FOX (5 million, 3.3/6) came in second, a little ahead of ABC (4.6 million, 2.9/5). NBC took fourth with 4.2 million viewers and a 2.9/5 (again, pending updates), and The CW delivered a little less than 900,000 viewers and a 0.6/1.

FOX and CBS tied for the lead among adults 18-49, each scoring a 1.8 rating. ABC earned a 1.4 to finish third, beating out NBC's 1.0. The CW averaged 0.3 in the demographic.

Thursday hour by hour:

8 p.m.

CBS: "The Big Bang Theory" rerun (8.1 million viewers, 5.3/10 households)/"Two and a Half Men" rerun (6.85 million, 4.5/8)
ABC: "Wipeout" (5.5 million, 3.2/6)
FOX: NFL preseason - Bengals/Falcons (4.9 million, 3.2/6)
NBC: "The Office" rerun (3.4 million, 2.3/4)/"Parks and Recreation" rerun (2.9 million, 2.0/3)
The CW: "Oh Sit" rerun (911,000, 0.6/1)

18-49 leader: "The Big Bang Theory" (2.1)

9 p.m.

CBS: "Big Brother" (6.3 million, 4.0/7)
FOX: NFL preseason - Bengals/Falcons (5.5 million, 3.5/6)
NBC: "Saving Hope" (4.2 million, 2.9/5)
ABC: "Time Machine Chefs" premiere (3.5 million, 2.2/4)
The CW: "The Next" premiere (850,000, 0.6/1)

18-49 leader: "Big Brother" (2.3)

10 p.m.

NBC: "Rock Center with Brian Williams" (5.15 million, 3.6/6)
ABC: "Rookie Blue" (4.99 million, 3.3/6)
CBS: "Person of Interest" rerun (4.97 million, 3.3/6)
FOX: NFL preseason - Bengals/Falcons (4.65 million, 3.1/5)

18-49 leader: NFL preseason (1.6)

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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