Preliminary Ratings: Thursday 01/05/2017

CBS wins the first Thursday night of the new year, with the return of its comedy line up, lead by THE BIG BANG THEORY with 16.7 million viewers and a 3.6 rating in Adults 18-49. The network was #1 in all categories, except the younger, A18-34 demographic, which was edged out by ABC. 10 PM drama, PURE GENIUS shows us why 13 episodes was more than enough as it was lowest rated show, in the demographics, than any other Big 4 program of the night.

ABC got traction from TRUTH & LIES: MENENDEZ BROTHERS. The ABC news special had the best numbers for any non-CBS program and won the final two hours in the younger demographics.

 A double shot of HELL'S KITCHEN, from FOX, allowed it to edge NBC in the younger demos. The two episodes performed better than former occupants of the night, ROSEWOOD and PITCH.

NBC's Thursday night line up returned after a two month hiatus, but NBC still managed on a tie with FOX for third place on the night. THE BLACKLIST barely beat out soon to end PURE GENIUS at 10 PM, giving question on if the drama should continue after this season.

Preliminary L+SD Network Averages:

	Total viewers	A18-34	A18-49	A25-54
ABC	6.30 million	1.0	1.4	1.9
CBS	8.70 million	0.9	1.7	2.6
CW	0.90 million	0.2	0.3	0.4
FOX	3.60 million	0.7	1.2	1.5
NBC	5.20 million	0.7	1.1	1.5

Time	Net	Program	P2*	A18-34	A18-49	A25-54
8:00	ABC	Great American Baking Show	5.00	0.6	1.0	1.4
9:00	ABC	Truth & Lies: Menendez Bros.	7.00	1.2	1.6	2.2
8:00	CBS	The Big Bang Theory	16.70	2.0	3.6	5.2
8:30	CBS	The Great Indoors	9.70	1.0	1.9	2.9
9:00	CBS	Mom	8.50	0.8	1.7	2.5
9:30	CBS	Life in Pieces	6.70	0.7	1.4	2.1
10:00	CBS	Pure Genius	5.30	0.4	0.9	1.3
8:00	CW	Legends of Tomorrow [R]	1.00	0.2	0.3	0.4
9:30	CW	Supernatural [R]	0.80	0.1	0.2	0.3
8:00	FOX	Hell's Kitchen	3.70	0.7	1.2	1.5
9:00	FOX	Hell's Kitchen	3.50	0.7	1.1	1.4
8:00	NBC	Superstore	4.50	0.8	1.2	1.5
8:30	NBC	The Good Place	3.60	0.7	1.0	1.4
9:00	NBC	Chicago Med	6.20	0.7	1.2	1.6
0:00	NBC	The Blacklist	5.20	0.5	1.0	1.4

* - viewers in millions