The premiere week of the 2020-21 TV season was unlike any other.
Due to the massive impact of COVID-19, the week was packed with un-scripted fare, reruns, and broadcast debuts of series which already aired elsewhere.
Amongst the lack of original scripted content, “The Masked Singer” and the NFL emerged as clear winners. The whacky Fox singing competition series delivered a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49 after seven days of delayed viewing. While that’s down a good chunk on last season, it still represents the largest non-football program of the week by some distance, and its +0.8 ratings growth was also by far and away the largest. “Sunday Night Football” came overall top with a 5.4.
The top scripted series of the week you ask? Well “The Simpsons” rolled back the clock for Fox, coming in with a 1.9 rating in Live+7, followed by “Family Guy” with a 1.1 and “Bob’s Burgers” with a 0.9.
It was a similar story on the total viewership front, with “Masked Singer” growing by around 50% to 8.8 million total viewers, still far behind “Sunday Night Football” with 18 million.
There was decent growth for two scripted shows, namely “L.A.’s Finest” and “Filthy Rich,” both of which gained more than 40% to end up with around 4.4 million viewers a piece.
Read the full week’s rankings below.
| Telecast | Network | Telecast Date | Live+SD A18-49 | Live+7 A18-49 | Actual Gain | % Gain |
| NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | NBC | 09/27/2020 |
5.4 |
5.4 |
even |
+0% |
| SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK | NBC | 09/27/2020 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
even |
+0% |
| MASKED SINGER, THE | FOX | 09/23/2020 |
1.6 |
2.4 |
+0.8 |
+50% |
| MONDAY NIGHT FTBL-9/21 | ABC | 09/21/2020 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
even |
+0% |
| SIMPSONS | FOX | 09/27/2020 |
1.7 |
1.9 |
+0.2 |
+12% |
| FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 | NBC | 09/27/2020 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
even |
+0% |
| BIG BROTHER-THU | CBS | 09/24/2020 |
1.1 |
1.5 |
+0.4 |
+36% |
| BIG BROTHER-WED | CBS | 09/23/2020 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
+0.3 |
+25% |
| I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE | FOX | 09/23/2020 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
+0.3 |
+25% |
| BIG BROTHER-SUN | CBS | 09/27/2020 |
1.0 |
1.4 |
+0.4 |
+40% |
| DANCING W/STARS SP-9/22 | ABC | 09/22/2020 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
+0.2 |
+18% |
| MONDAY NIGHT KICKOFF-9/21 | ABC | 09/21/2020 |
1.0 |
1.1 |
+0.1 |
+10% |
| FAMILY GUY | FOX | 09/27/2020 |
0.7 |
1.1 |
+0.4 |
+57% |
| AMERICA’S GOT TALENT-WED | NBC | 09/23/2020 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
+0.1 |
+11% |
| BOB’S BURGERS | FOX | 09/27/2020 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
+0.2 |
+29% |
| AMERICA’S GOT TALENT-TUE | NBC | 09/22/2020 |
0.8 |
0.9 |
+0.1 |
+13% |
| CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD | ABC | 09/24/2020 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
+0.1 |
+14% |
| SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | ABC | 09/26/2020 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
even |
+0% |
| LOVE ISLAND-THU | CBS | 09/24/2020 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
+0.3 |
+60% |
| LOVE ISLAND-WED | CBS | 09/23/2020 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
+0.2 |
+33% |
| BLESS THE HARTS | FOX | 09/27/2020 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
even |
+0% |
| LA’S FINEST | FOX | 09/21/2020 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
+0.3 |
+60% |
| TRANSPLANT | NBC | 09/22/2020 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
+0.3 |
+60% |
| 20/20-FRI | ABC | 09/25/2020 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
+0.2 |
+40% |
| PRESS YOUR LUCK | ABC | 09/24/2020 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
+0.1 |
+17% |
| 60 MINUTES | CBS | 09/27/2020 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
even |
+0% |
| LOVE ISLAND-FRI | CBS | 09/25/2020 |
0.4 |
0.7 |
+0.3 |
+75% |
| LOVE ISLAND-MON | CBS | 09/21/2020 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
+0.2 |
+40% |
| LOVE ISLAND-TUE | CBS | 09/22/2020 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
+0.2 |
+40% |
| FILTHY RICH | FOX | 09/21/2020 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
+0.2 |
+40% |
| WWE FRI NIGHT SMACKDOWN | FOX | 09/25/2020 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
+0.1 |
+17% |
| AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR | NBC | 09/21/2020 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
+0.2 |
+40% |
| AMERICAS GOT TALENT 9/23 | NBC | 09/23/2020 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
even |
+0% |
| NBC NHL STANLEY CUP FNL#5 | NBC | 09/26/2020 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
even |
+0% |
| MATCH GAME | ABC | 09/24/2020 |
0.5 |
0.6 |
+0.1 |
+20% |
| LOVE ISLAND-SUN | CBS | 09/27/2020 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
+0.2 |
+50% |
| DATELINE NBC-MON | NBC | 09/21/2020 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
+0.2 |
+50% |
| DATELINE-THU | NBC | 09/24/2020 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
+0.2 |
+50% |
| NBC NHL STANLEY CUP FNL#4 | NBC | 09/25/2020 |
0.6 |
0.6 |
even |
+0% |
| 48 HOURS SUSPICION | CBS | 09/23/2020 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
+0.1 |
+25% |
| WALL | NBC | 09/24/2020 |
0.4 |
0.5 |
+0.1 |
+25% |
| TIME 100 | ABC | 09/22/2020 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
even |
+0% |
| WWOD:GUARDIANS OF GALAXY | ABC | 09/23/2020 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
even |
+0% |
| 48 HOURS | CBS | 09/26/2020 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
+0.1 |
+33% |
| GREATEST #ATHOME VIDEOS | CBS | 09/25/2020 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
even |
+0% |
| COSMOS | FOX | 09/22/2020 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
even |
+0% |
| COSMOS-SP 9/22 9P | FOX | 09/22/2020 |
0.3 |
0.4 |
+0.1 |
+33% |
| FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 | NBC | 09/27/2020 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
even |
+0% |
| SELLEBRITY:GO-TO-GIRLS | ABC | 09/27/2020 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
even |
+0% |
| MANHUNT: DEADLY GAMES | CBS | 09/21/2020 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
even |
+0% |
| HUNDRED, THE | CW | 09/23/2020 |
0.1 |
0.3 |
+0.2 |
+200% |
| FOOTBALL NT AMERICA P1SUS | NBC | 09/27/2020 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
even |
+0% |
| CORONER | CW | 09/23/2020 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
+0.1 |
+100% |
| FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL | FOX | 09/26/2020 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
even |
+0% |
| FOX SATURDAY BSBL PST-SUS | FOX | 09/26/2020 |
0.2 |
0.2 |
even |
+0% |
| DEAD PIXELS | CW | 09/22/2020 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
even |
+0% |
| IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FEST-1 | CW | 09/27/2020 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
even |
+0% |
| MASTERS OF ILLUSION | CW | 09/25/2020 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
even |
+0% |
| MYSTERIES DECODED | CW | 09/24/2020 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
even |
+0% |
| TELL ME A STORY | CW | 09/22/2020 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
even |
+0% |
| WORLDS FUNNIEST ANIMALS 1 | CW | 09/25/2020 |
0.1 |
0.1 |
even |
+0% |
Live+7 Total Viewers
| Telecast | Network | Telecast Date | Live+SD Total Viewership (in millions) |
Live+7 Total Viewership (in millions) |
Actual Gain |
% Gain |
| NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | NBC | 09/27/2020 |
17869 |
18026 |
+157 |
+1% |
| SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK | NBC | 09/27/2020 |
12100 |
12136 |
+36 |
+0% |
| MASKED SINGER, THE | FOX | 09/23/2020 |
5919 |
8802 |
+2883 |
+49% |
| MONDAY NIGHT FTBL-9/21 | ABC | 09/21/2020 |
8000 |
8092 |
+92 |
+1% |
| 60 MINUTES | CBS | 09/27/2020 |
7570 |
7986 |
+416 |
+5% |
| AMERICA’S GOT TALENT-WED | NBC | 09/23/2020 |
6572 |
7629 |
+1057 |
+16% |
| DANCING W/STARS SP-9/22 | ABC | 09/22/2020 |
6099 |
7397 |
+1298 |
+21% |
| AMERICA’S GOT TALENT-TUE | NBC | 09/22/2020 |
6159 |
7129 |
+970 |
+16% |
| FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 | NBC | 09/27/2020 |
6707 |
6711 |
+4 |
+0% |
| CELEBRITY FAMILY FEUD | ABC | 09/24/2020 |
5266 |
6054 |
+788 |
+15% |
| AMERICAS GOT TALENT 9/23 | NBC | 09/23/2020 |
5477 |
5857 |
+380 |
+7% |
| TRANSPLANT | NBC | 09/22/2020 |
3817 |
5843 |
+2026 |
+53% |
| MONDAY NIGHT KICKOFF-9/21 | ABC | 09/21/2020 |
5622 |
5657 |
+35 |
+1% |
| I CAN SEE YOUR VOICE | FOX | 09/23/2020 |
4562 |
5627 |
+1065 |
+23% |
| BIG BROTHER-SUN | CBS | 09/27/2020 |
4167 |
5404 |
+1237 |
+30% |
| BIG BROTHER-WED | CBS | 09/23/2020 |
4194 |
5268 |
+1074 |
+26% |
| BIG BROTHER-THU | CBS | 09/24/2020 |
4233 |
5210 |
+977 |
+23% |
| 20/20-FRI | ABC | 09/25/2020 |
3942 |
4888 |
+946 |
+24% |
| SIMPSONS | FOX | 09/27/2020 |
4450 |
4801 |
+351 |
+8% |
| FILTHY RICH | FOX | 09/21/2020 |
3029 |
4433 |
+1404 |
+46% |
| DATELINE-THU | NBC | 09/24/2020 |
3435 |
4433 |
+998 |
+29% |
| LA’S FINEST | FOX | 09/21/2020 |
3054 |
4314 |
+1260 |
+41% |
| AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR | NBC | 09/21/2020 |
3483 |
4117 |
+634 |
+18% |
| DATELINE NBC-MON | NBC | 09/21/2020 |
3046 |
4077 |
+1031 |
+34% |
| PRESS YOUR LUCK | ABC | 09/24/2020 |
3415 |
3841 |
+426 |
+12% |
| 48 HOURS | CBS | 09/26/2020 |
3004 |
3818 |
+814 |
+27% |
| GREATEST #ATHOME VIDEOS | CBS | 09/25/2020 |
3206 |
3482 |
+276 |
+9% |
| MATCH GAME | ABC | 09/24/2020 |
2792 |
3461 |
+669 |
+24% |
| WALL | NBC | 09/24/2020 |
2951 |
3418 |
+467 |
+16% |
| SATURDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL | ABC | 09/26/2020 |
2958 |
2990 |
+32 |
+1% |
| NBC NHL STANLEY CUP FNL#5 | NBC | 09/26/2020 |
2724 |
2750 |
+26 |
+1% |
| FAMILY GUY | FOX | 09/27/2020 |
1865 |
2641 |
+776 |
+42% |
| LOVE ISLAND-THU | CBS | 09/24/2020 |
1884 |
2530 |
+646 |
+34% |
| 48 HOURS SUSPICION | CBS | 09/23/2020 |
2058 |
2528 |
+470 |
+23% |
| LOVE ISLAND-FRI | CBS | 09/25/2020 |
1861 |
2485 |
+624 |
+34% |
| TIME 100 | ABC | 09/22/2020 |
2258 |
2463 |
+205 |
+9% |
| LOVE ISLAND-WED | CBS | 09/23/2020 |
1876 |
2454 |
+578 |
+31% |
| WWE FRI NIGHT SMACKDOWN | FOX | 09/25/2020 |
2114 |
2419 |
+305 |
+14% |
| LOVE ISLAND-TUE | CBS | 09/22/2020 |
1868 |
2369 |
+501 |
+27% |
| LOVE ISLAND-MON | CBS | 09/21/2020 |
1840 |
2320 |
+480 |
+26% |
| LOVE ISLAND-SUN | CBS | 09/27/2020 |
1729 |
2287 |
+558 |
+32% |
| BOB’S BURGERS | FOX | 09/27/2020 |
1779 |
2284 |
+505 |
+28% |
| NBC NHL STANLEY CUP FNL#4 | NBC | 09/25/2020 |
2223 |
2252 |
+29 |
+1% |
| BLESS THE HARTS | FOX | 09/27/2020 |
2060 |
2174 |
+114 |
+6% |
| SELLEBRITY:GO-TO-GIRLS | ABC | 09/27/2020 |
1895 |
2067 |
+172 |
+9% |
| WWOD:GUARDIANS OF GALAXY | ABC | 09/23/2020 |
1994 |
2056 |
+62 |
+3% |
| MANHUNT: DEADLY GAMES | CBS | 09/21/2020 |
1578 |
2015 |
+437 |
+28% |
| FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 | NBC | 09/27/2020 |
1948 |
1951 |
+3 |
+0% |
| COSMOS | FOX | 09/22/2020 |
1615 |
1840 |
+225 |
+14% |
| COSMOS-SP 9/22 9P | FOX | 09/22/2020 |
1520 |
1719 |
+199 |
+13% |
| FOOTBALL NT AMERICA P1SUS | NBC | 09/27/2020 |
1532 |
1535 |
+3 |
+0% |
| CORONER | CW | 09/23/2020 |
719 |
1287 |
+568 |
+79% |
| FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL | FOX | 09/26/2020 |
1121 |
1127 |
+6 |
+1% |
| FOX SATURDAY BSBL PST-SUS | FOX | 09/26/2020 |
969 |
969 |
+0 |
+0% |
| HUNDRED, THE | CW | 09/23/2020 |
523 |
962 |
+439 |
+84% |
| MYSTERIES DECODED | CW | 09/24/2020 |
745 |
818 |
+73 |
+10% |
| WORLDS FUNNIEST ANIMALS 1 | CW | 09/25/2020 |
749 |
814 |
+65 |
+9% |
| MASTERS OF ILLUSION | CW | 09/25/2020 |
587 |
633 |
+46 |
+8% |
| IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FEST-1 | CW | 09/27/2020 |
467 |
492 |
+25 |
+5% |
| TELL ME A STORY | CW | 09/22/2020 |
315 |
408 |
+93 |
+30% |
| DEAD PIXELS | CW | 09/22/2020 |
305 |
323 |
+18 |
+6% |