The Big Five networks’ combined average rating among viewers 50 and older is up 4 percent compared with last summer, from a 12.1 to a 12.6, according to Nielsen data analyzed by Magna. By comparison, 18-49s are down 5 percent.

That’s also the highest aggregate rating for any demographic, and for once it’s not CBS that’s responsible for the growth, though it's still by far the top-rated network among 50-plus viewers.

This summer the other Big Four networks also have hit shows among older viewers, and CBS is actually the only one that hasn’t seen growth. Its 4.7 rating is flat to last summer.

NBC is second with a 3.3 average, up 6 percent over last summer’s 3.1. Fox has seen the most growth, up 13 percent from a 2.3 to a 2.6. Fourth-place ABC is also up, 4 percent from a 2.4 to a 2.5.

The CW slipped 17 percent from a 0.6 to a 0.5, reflecting similar declines across every demo in a summer where its only original programming is “WWE Smackdown.”

Some of this year’s ratings gains are due to shows that perform well among younger viewers, like adults 18-49, as well as older ones.

NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” for example, is the top original show this summer with viewers over 50, at a 7.3 rating, while ranking third among 18-49s, at a 3.6 rating. ABC’s “Wipeout,” too, has become a top show in both demos. 

But some of the ratings growth among 50-pluses has come from programs that do much better with older viewers than younger ones.

NBC’s recently concluded “Nashville Star” was a bust among 18-49s, yet among 50-plus viewers, the show averaged a 3.4 rating, more than double its 18-49 average. Same with the network’s “Celebrity Family Feud,” which pulled a 4.8 with older viewers and a mere 1.9 with 18-49s.

Clearly game shows are big with over-50s. Fox’s “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader” and CBS’s “Million Dollar Password” are the No. 1 shows in the demo on their respective networks, though among 18-49s they rank quite a bit lower.

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Meanwhile, in broadcast ratings for the week ended Aug. 3:
 
Among adults 18-49, Fox was first with a 1.8 rating and a 6 share, followed by NBC at 1.7/6, ABC and CBS at 1.5/5, Univision at 1.4/5, CW at 0.5/1, Telemundo at 0.4/1, MyNetworkTV and TeleFutura at 0.3/1 and Ion and Azteca at 0.1/0.
 
Among adults 18-34, Univision was first with a 1.7 average rating and a 6 share, followed by Fox at 1.6/6, NBC at 1.3/5, ABC at 1.1/4, CBS at 1.0/4, Telemundo and CW at 0.5/2, Telefutura at 0.3/1, MyNetworkTV at 0.2/1, Azteca at 0.1/0 and at Ion 0.0/0.
 
Among adults 25-54, NBC was first with a 2.1 average rating and a 6 share, followed by CBS and Fox at 2.0/6, ABC at 1.7/5, Univision at 1.4/4, CW at 0.6/2, Telemundo at 0.4/1, MyNetworkTV and Telefutura at 0.3/1 and Ion and Azteca at 0.1/0.
 
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” 3.7; 2. ABC’s “Wipeout” 3.6; 3. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance - Wednesday” 3.0; Tie-4. CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” and “So You Think You Can Dance – Thursday” 2.9.
 
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” 13.85 million; 2. ABC’s “Wipeout” 9.70 million; 3. CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” 9.35 million; 4. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance – Wednesday” 8.84 million; 5. CBS’s “Criminal Minds” 8.70 million.
 
Top five Live+7 English-language Big Five shows (households, week ended July 20): 1. Fox’s “MLB All-Star Game” 9.3; 2. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” 8.3; 3. Fox’s “MLB All-Star Pregame” 6.9; 4. CBS’s “Criminal Minds” 6.3; 5. CBS’s “CSI” 6.1.
 
Top five Live+7 English-language Big Five shows (18-49s, week ended July 20): 1. Fox’s “MLB All-Star Game” 4.6; 2. ABC’s “Wipeout” 3.6; 3. Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance – Wednesday” 3.5; 4. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” 3.4; Tie-5. Fox’s “MLB All-Star Pregame” and “So You Think You Can Dance – Thursday” 3.1.
 
Show on the rise: “Big Brother,” CBS, Thursday 8 p.m. The reality staple took over a new timeslot and posted a 2.3 among 18-49s, up 44 percent from the 1.6 “Greatest American Dog” earned in the slot the previous week, and also up almost 10 percent from the previous Wednesday’s 2.1.
 
Show on the decline: “The Mole,” ABC, Monday 10 p.m. The series posted a 1.2 among 18-49s last week, down 14 percent from the previous week’s 1.4.