The season finales of NBC’s “The Voice” and ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” were the top shows on the final Tuesday of the television season, but they once again cannibalized each other somewhat by going head to head in the same two-hour window. The night also saw a strong first-season finale for CW’s “The Flash.”
According to preliminary national estimates from Nielsen, NBC won Tuesday in the 18-49 demo behind the two-hour conclusion of “The Voice” (2.8 rating/9 share in adults 18-49, 11.4 million viewers overall), which had its best rating on any night in over a month. With an expected upward adjustment to a 2.9 in the nationals, the music contest will finish down about 12% from its year-ago finale — not bad considering its year-over-year declines had been larger in recent weeks. And in total viewers, it should come close to last year’s national total of 11.565 million.
At ABC, the finale of “Dancing With the Stars” (2.3/7 in 18-49, 13.3 million viewers overall) matched the previous night’s rating as this edition’s high and came within a tenth of last spring’s finale while also standing as Tuesday’s No. 1 program in total viewers. “Dancing” finished its fall season with better numbers (3.0/9 in 18-49, 15.98 million viewers overall), but the show didn’t have to oppose “The Voice” on that night.
Opening the night for ABC, the conclusion to the two-night season premiere of “The Bachelorette” (1.9/7 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall) won the 8 o’clock hour in 18-49 over NBC’s recap hour of the previous night’s performances (1.6/6 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall). “Bachelorette” tied with NBC’s “Voice” finale as Tuesday’s No. 1 show in adults 18-34 (1.8 rating).
At CW, “The Flash” (1.4/5 in 18-49, 3.7 million viewers overall) wrapped its season nearly in line with last week — and figures to rise in the nationals once its three-minute overrun into the 9 o’clock hour is included. It was the night’s No. 1 broadcast in men 18-34 (1.8/6). In its rookie year, the superhero series starring Grant Gustin became the network’s most-watched series ever.
Closing out the night was “iZombie” (0.7/2 in 18-49, 1.8 million viewers overall), which may come down a bit in the nationals to match last week’s 0.6 demo rating.
Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen” (1.3/4 in 18-49, 3.4 million viewers overall) hit a five-week high with its two-hour episode despite having to face tougher reality-show competition than usual. The net’s 1.3 average for the night was its best on a Tuesday since the night of the “MasterChef Junior” finale in February.
CBS aired repeats of “NCIS” (1.0/4 in 18-49, 9.1 million viewers overall), “NCIS: New Orleans” (0.9/3 in 18-49, 7.3 million viewers overall) and a second “NCIS” at 10 (0.9/3 in 18-49, 6.4 million viewers overall).
