Primetime Ratings: NBC’s Fireworks Show Blasts Competition
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NBC was the big ratings winner Tuesday, as its Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular scored a 1.3 in viewers 18-49, according to Nielsen’s overnights, with 6.4 million total viewers. Last year’s special did a 1.5, which was up 50% over 2015.
The recap show at 10 p.m. did a 1.1, giving NBC a 1.2 rating and 6 share on the night. Jennifer Lopez, Lady Antebellum and Sheryl Crow were among the performers on NBC. The Spectacular was hosted by American Ninja Warrior's Akbar Gbaja-Biamila, Matt Iseman and Kristine Leahy.
ABC and CBS were distant runners-up at 0.4/2. ABC aired repeated comedies, while CBS had repeated dramas.
Fox, also in repeats, was at 0.3/2.
The CW had repeats too en route to a 0.2/1.
Among Spanish-language networks, Telemundo weighed in at 0.4/2 and Univision at 0.3/2.
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Michael Malone is content director at B+C and Multichannel News. He joined B+C in 2005 and has covered network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television, including writing the "Local News Close-Up" market profiles. He also hosted the podcasts "Busted Pilot" and "Series Business." His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The L.A. Times, The Boston Globe and New York magazine.