Coverage of the RNC rose slightly on CBS, potentially thanks to the far superior lead-in. Instead of the incompatible and low-rated Love Island, the RNC got the higher-rated and semi-compatible Tough As Nails as a lead-in. Tough as Nails rose a tenth, and the RNC also rose from Tuesday. It was steady with the DNC's rating a week ago. At the start of CBS's night, Big Brother also rose a tenth and easily won the night.
Things weren't getting any better for America's Got Talent Wednesday night. Once the dominant summer program, it's now at nearly half of what Big Brother is doing ratings-wise and held steady with last week's low of 0.6. After it, a Game of Games repeat was steady at 0.4 and the RNC was steady at 0.3, two tenths below the DNC's comparable rating last week (but only a tenth below the DNC's preliminary rating.)
ABC said farewell to their summer sitcom United We Fall, which was steady with yet another 0.5. Though it's no power player, it's a solid result for a show that ABC clearly didn't have high expectations for. As shown by some of their other summer shows, ratings easily could've been worse. ABC sitcom repeats were at 0.4/0.3/0.3, with the 8:30 Goldberg encore rising from last week. At 10, the RNC was down a tenth both from the previous night on ABC and the DNC last week (in both cases, they adjusted up in the finals, so this broadcast still has a chance).
Fox had another MasterChef repeat night at 0.4.
The CW had a special on women's employment featuring appearances by Hillary Clinton, Sheryl Crow and Jane Fonda at 0.1, followed by Coroner, also at 0.1. Once again, Coroner grew from its lead-in in viewers.
Finals Update: All shows held their preliminary ratings.
