TV ratings: No contest for ‘Big Brother’ Thursday night

It’s now been about three weeks since any “Big Brother” contestants set off major controversies with racist and homophobic remarks or jokes about child pornography. Nonetheless, the CBS reality series increased its ratings from last week to win Thursday night.

“Big Brother,” which had little competition in prime time among the major networks, drew 6.83 million viewers to its live elimination episode, according to preliminary numbers from Nielsen, up 8% from last week. The show generated a rating of 2.3 in the key 18-49 demographic, climbing 5%.

Results were inflated because of preseason NFL telecasts that affected about 3% of the country.

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CBS was the top-rated and most-watched network, bringing in an average 6.17 million viewers and a 1.7 rating in the 18-49 group.

Univision placed second in the group.

Meanwhile, all ABC’s original shows rose week-to-week. The slapstick-laden obstacle course contest “Wipeout” grew 8% to a 1.3 rating, while “Motive” surged 38% to its 12-week high of 1.1 and cop drama “Rookie Blue” jumped 10%.

NBC’s only original was “Hollywood Game Night,” which drew 3.95 million viewers and rose 8% in the 18-49 age group to a rating of 1.3.

Fox was in all repeats.

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ryan.faughnder@latimes.com