Ratings: ‘The Bachelor’ Is 2018’s Top Show – You Know, After 1 Night

If 2018 ended today, ABC would win the calendar year. Last night’s New Year’s Day season premiere of “The Bachelor” topped Monday’s broadcast primetime in TV ratings, handing the Disney-owned broadcaster a victory among adults 18-49.

Unfortunately for ABC, the year is 365 days — not one — and this “Bachelor” kickoff was down from last year’s. The January 2, 2017 season premiere posted a 2.1 demo rating and 6.620 million viewers overall. Monday’s version, which faced a holiday and heavy college football bowl game competition on cable, had a 1.5 and 5.449 million viewers.

With some of its hit sitcoms still around via reruns, CBS ended up finishing first last night in terms of total viewers. NBC and CBS tied for second in the key demo.