Friday TV Ratings 10/2/26: Strong Return for Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, 20/20 Also Rises, Penn State/Northwestern College Football Game Leads

Analysis to come.

Friday TV Ratings 9/18/26: Greatest @Home Videos: CEDY Awards Decent, Houston/Texas Tech College Football Game Dominates, Anna Pigeon Dips [+ Analysis]

On CBS, The Greatest @Home Videos: CEDY Awards (0.18) was a decent Friday night offering, and Big Brother: Unlocked (0.19, 0.00) held steady for its finale. Dateline (0.12) struggled on NBC, while ABC's 20/20 (0.20) was on more solid ground. College football on Fox (0.72) dominated overall. The CW's NASCAR broadcast (0.10) made the network more visible. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.

Friday TV Ratings 9/11/26: 9/11 Tribute in Light Strong, College Football on Fox Leads, Anna Pigeon Dips [+ Analysis]

On a somber Friday night, ABC's 9/11 Tribute in Light (0.41) brought in a strong rating, while CBS's 9/11: We Remember (0.15) received noticeably less attention. Dateline (0.13) underperformed on NBC, but it was saddled with an abysmal NFL Kickoff Spotlight lead-in (0.09). Fox was on top with college football (0.68). Totally Funny Animals (0.04, +0.02) rose on the CW, and there was another uptick at 9:30 (0.05, +0.01). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 8/28/26: CW Takes Third for the Night with NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Jeopardy! Masters Ticks Up, Anna Pigeon Sinks Again [+ Analysis]

NASCAR (0.12) brought some life to the CW on Friday night, enough to surpass NBC repeats of America's Got Talent (0.09) and Dateline (0.11) in the key demographic. On the other hand, college volleyball on Fox (0.07/0.05) completely underwhelmed. Jeopardy! Masters (0.26, +0.01) ticked up on ABC, while NFL on CBS (0.51) led the way overall. Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 8/21/26: Anna Pigeon and WWE SmackDown Rebound, Celebrity Jeopardy! Repeat Tops a Quiet Night on Broadcast, Real Time with Bill Maher Goes Low [+ Analysis]

ABC's Celebrity Jeopardy! rerun (0.21) was the top performer on broadcast on Friday night, but the 20/20 repeat (0.14) that followed dropped markedly from there. NBC aired repeats of America's Got Talent (0.14) and Dateline (0.15). CBS aired drama reruns (0.11/0.15/0.11), while Fox continued with reality (0.12/0.14). Totally Funny Animals (0.03, -0.01) dipped on the CW, and the decline continued for the 9:30 episode (0.02, -0.01). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 8/14/26: WWE SmackDown and Anna Pigeon Slide, NFL Preseason Narrowly Leads, Celebrity Jeopardy! Repeat Tops Broadcast [+ Analysis]

On Friday night, repeats of Celebrity Jeopardy! (0.23) and 20/20 (0.17) made up ABC's lineup, while NBC aired reruns of America's Got Talent (0.17) and Dateline (0.18). This is UFC (0.08) flopped on CBS, losing to Fox reruns of MasterChef (0.12) and Nation's Dumbest (0.18). Over on the CW, Totally Funny Animals (0.02, 0.00) was steady with last week at nine, but there was some upward momentum at 9:30 (0.04, +0.02). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 6/26/26: World Cup Declines but Continues to Easily Lead, Dateline Strong, NHL Draft Up from 2025 [+ Analysis]

A diminished FIFA World Cup broadcast (1.81) was still easily in the lead on Friday night, meaning Fox was once again on top. On NBC, Dateline (0.24, +0.09) surged, building on the repeat of America's Got Talent (0.18) that led into it. ABC aired a Celebrity Jeopardy! rerun (0.19) and 20/20 (0.19). CBS went with repeats of Sheriff Country (0.21), Fire Country (0.13), and Boston Blue (0.12). On the CW, an encore presentation of the Taylor Swift documentary Taylor (0.01) posted the same rating it did in its initial airing (0.01). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 6/19/26: WWE SmackDown Rises, World Cup Down but Still Dominant, Real Time with Bill Maher Rebounds [+ Analysis]

The Brazil v. Haiti FIFA World Cup game (2.86) was the top-rated broadcast of the night, giving Fox the lead once more. NBC's broadcast of the US Open Golf (0.27) was at a modest level in comparison, but it was a bit higher than a steady 20/20 (0.23, 0.00) on ABC. Repeats of Sheriff Country (0.17), Fire Country (0.15), and Boston Blue (0.10) aired on CBS. AVP Volleyball (0.03) remained rather low on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 6/12/26: USA/Paraguay World Cup Game Enormous, Toy Story: 30 Years & Beyond Solid, Sheriff Country Repeat Out-Rates Several Originals [+ Analysis]

Fox's broadcast of the USA v. Paraguay FIFA World Cup game posted an enormous 5.92 in the Adults 18-49 demographic, which easily put the network in first place on Friday night. On ABC, the special Toy Story: 30 Years and Beyond (0.24) performed well, but it fell behind a surprisingly strong repeat of CBS's Sheriff Country (0.25). Dateline (0.17, -0.02) declined on NBC. On the CW, the 9 p.m. episode of Totally Funny Animals (0.03, +0.02) was up from last week's premiere, and the series gained even more ground at 9:30 (0.06, +0.03). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 6/5/26: NBA Finals Decline in Game 2 but Remain Heavily Up Year-Over-Year, Paltry Return for Totally Funny Animals, WWE SmackDown Down [+ Analysis]

In game two, the NBA Finals (4.75, -0.46) declined but remained well above its competitors, giving ABC the win once more. NBC aired a repeat of America's Got Talent (0.18) and Dateline (0.19), while CBS went with encores of Sheriff Country (0.13), Fire Country (0.11), and Boston Blue (0.08). Fox gave viewers the option to watch reruns of Farmer Wants a Wife (0.08/0.08). On the CW, the performance of Totally Funny Animals (0.01/0.01) was no laughing matter, as the series returned in astonishingly poor shape, even falling behind a repeat of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.03). Key: (P) = premiere. (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 2/20/26: Stumble Soars to Series High, Winter Olympics Decline but Well Above Previous Friday, 20/20 Jumps [+ Analysis]

With the help of an Olympics lead-in (1.45), NBC sitcom Stumble (0.61, +0.46) jumped to a new series high in a later slot. On ABC, 20/20 (0.32, +0.03) rose from last week. This Is UFC (0.13) made little noise on CBS, falling a tenth behind college basketball on Fox (0.23). Repeats of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.03) and Masters of Illusion (0.02) aired on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 2/13/26: Winter Olympics Sink, RuPaul’s Drag Race Also Down, 20/20 Jumps [+ Analysis]

The Winter Olympics (1.21, -0.27) weakened considerably on NBC, even as nothing came close to it in the key demo. On ABC, 20/20 (0.29, +0.05) grew significantly, rising from an already solid Celebrity Wheel rerun (0.26). CBS aired repeats of Survivor (0.15) and Sheriff Country (0.08/0.09). College basketball (0.23) was down from last week on Fox. The CW aired reruns of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.03) and Masters of Illusion (0.03). Key: (R) = repeat. 

Friday TV Ratings 10/3/25: WNBA Finals Heavily Up from 2024, On Brand with Jimmy Fallon Dips, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Tops Broadcast [+ Analysis]

On Brand with Jimmy Fallon (0.18, -0.04) was down from its Tuesday premiere on NBC, and Dateline (0.15, -0.04) also slipped. Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (0.27, -0.04) dealt with a similar-sized decline on ABC, while 20/20 (0.20, 0.00) held steady. CBS went with repeats of Fire Country (0.10/0.09) and Blue Bloods (0.10). Fox aired college volleyball (0.18). Encores of Law & Order Toronto (0.02/0.04) aired on the CW. Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 9/26/25: Celebrity Wheel of Fortune Solid on New Night, College Football on ESPN Easily Leads, WNBA Playoffs Decline [+ Analysis]

ABC's Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (0.31) had a solid start to its Friday night stint, topping its time slot handily. At nine, 20/20 (0.20) dropped by more than a tenth from its lead-in, barely fending off NBC's Dateline (0.19). CBS aired a Big Brother clip show (0.24) and drama reruns (0.09/0.09). Fox's college football game (0.28) was a few hundredths shy of Wheel. The CW aired repeats (0.03/0.04/0.02). Key: (P) = premiere. (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 9/19/25: Liberty/Mercury WNBA Playoffs Matchup Rises for Game 3, The Rainmaker and On Patrol: Live Rise, College Football Easily Leads [+ Analysis]

College football on Fox (0.58) led the way in the Adults 18-49 demographic, rising noticeably from last week's broadcast. CBS aired Big Brother: Unlocked (0.19) and a Fall First Look (0.08). ABC went with an encore of High Potential (0.10) and 20/20 (0.15). NBC aired a repeat of America's Got Talent (0.13) and Dateline (0.18). The CW aired encores of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.03) and Totally Funny Animals (0.02/0.03). Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale. 

Friday TV Ratings 9/12/25: College Football on ESPN Leads, The Rainmaker and Real Time with Bill Maher Rise, WWE SmackDown Slides [+ Analysis]

Fox's college football showing (0.33) was ahead of the other broadcast network offerings on Friday night, with ABC repeats of Shark Tank (0.19) and 20/20 (0.14) coming in second. CBS aired reruns of Fire Country (0.13/0.10) and Blue Bloods (0.11). NBC went with encores of America's Got Talent (0.13) and Dateline (0.12). The CW was close behind with its NASCAR broadcast (0.10). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 9/5/25: WWE SmackDown Rebounds, The Rainmaker Ticks Down, Big Brother Unlocked Leads Broadcast on a Weak Night [+ Analysis]

CBS's Big Brother: Unlocked (0.23) was the top-rated offering on broadcast on Friday night, with ABC repeats of Shark Tank (0.15) and 20/20 (0.17) close behind. NBC's reruns of America's Got Talent (0.12) and Dateline (0.13) were a notch below that, and Fox's women's volleyball broadcast (0.07) fell even lower. The CW aired encores of Penn & Teller (0.06) and Totally Funny Animals (0.05/0.04). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 8/22/25: NASCAR XFinity Strong on CW, NFL Preseason Leads, Search for the Truth: The Amanda Knox Story OK [+ Analysis]

The CW's NASCAR broadcast (0.15) made the network relatively competitive on Friday night, putting it ahead of NBC reruns of Happy's Place (0.13/0.12). CBS led the way in the key demo with its NFL preseason game (0.42). ABC aired a special about Amanda Knox (0.16). Fox aired women's college volleyball (0.16/0.08). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 8/15/25: The Rainmaker Modest in Premiere, Stand Up to Cancer Draws Minimal Interest Across Big Four as ABC Tops Coverage, WWE SmackDown Slides [+ Analysis]

Four of the five major broadcast networks aired Stand Up to Cancer on Friday night, and ABC's broadcast (0.19) easily led the way. NBC (0.09) came in a distant second, with Fox (0.08) and CBS (0.07) close behind. Later in the night, NBC's Dateline encore (0.10) was a notch above ABC's 20/20 repeat (0.08). CBS's Fire Country rerun (0.09) beat Fox's MasterChef (0.06) repeat. The CW aired repeats of Penn & Teller: Fool Us (0.03) and Totally Funny Animals (0.03/0.02). Key: (R) = repeat.

Friday TV Ratings 8/8/25: Resident Alien Ticks Up for Series Finale, Big Brother: Unlocked Tops a Quiet Night on Broadcast, NFL Preseason Tops WWE SmackDown to Lead the Night [+ Analysis]

CBS spin-off Big Brother: Unlocked (0.17, -0.01) was down slightly from its premiere, but this rating was still higher than all other broadcast network offerings on a quiet Friday night. ABC aired repeats of Match Game (0.14) and 20/20 (0.12), while NBC went with encores of Happy's Place (0.11/0.12) and Dateline (0.14). On Fox, The Fixer (0.07/0.05) was down for its finale. Over on the CW, Totally Funny Animals (0.04, +0.02) and Totally Funny Kids (0.03, +0.01) both rose. Key: (R) = repeat. (F) = finale.