Once again, CBS reigns king as America’s most watched network, thanks to the help of veteran shows like NCIS and The Big Bang Theory and new shows like Life in Pieces, according to Variety.
It also helped that the Super Bowl was broadcast on the network this year as well.
However, if the Super Bowl hadn’t aired on CBS, the network would have been in a ratings tie with NBC and the two would both be the most watched networks.
CBS also has the best rating when it comes to the 25 to 54 demographic with a 3.1 overall rating. NBC was close behind with a 2.7 rating, making this the ninth time in 13 years that CBS has won in the overall ratings. CBS also had the most viewers for the 13th time in the last 14 years and the network’s eighth consecutive win. The network averaged 10.9 million viewers whereas NBC averaged 8.1 million viewers.
But while CBS is the reigning network again, NBC’s freshman shows had the best showing. Blindspot was the number one new show and Chicago Med claims the number two spot. NBC also had the number two new comedy in Superstore. All three of the shows have been renewed for their second seasons. When it comes down to Little Big Shots, the show was the number one in alternative formats.
As for specials, NBC also takes the cake, as The Wiz Live, Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors and Adele Live in New York City did well for the network, as Adele’s special was the top rated musical special on any network in 11 years.
Overall, this was NBC’s best season without having the Olympics or a Super Bowl in nine years.
Fox’s Empire had a strong second season, making it the number one entertainment broadcast with an overall rating of 6.7 in the live and seven day ratings and its new show, Lucifer, ended up tied for the number three new show across the network (it tied with ABC’s Quantico).
ABC has struggled slightly this season, as Wicked City ended up being the first show canceled on the five networks as the show struggled in the ratings. However, Grey’s Anatomy is still doing well, even in its 12th season. Some of its other veteran shows, especially Modern Family and Scandal have softened in the ratings. But ABC could still end up taking seven of the top 20 spots because of Grey’s Anatomy and Quantico.
The CW was steady in terms of its ratings from last year, with The Flash being the network’s number one show. Looking ahead, the CW could have a steady year for the next TV season, as Supergirl is moving to the network and The CW is also looking at doing super crossover between Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
This past season has been rough for all the networks as more and more people shift their viewing habits from live viewing to recording the shows and watching them at a later time. Overall, when all of the ratings at the networks were averaged out, the overall rating was an 8.9, which is down seven percent from last year’s average rating, which was a 9.6. Viewership across the networks was also down, this year the combined average was 33.6 million, which is down 9 percent from last year’s 36.8 million viewers.