This fall’s most and least popular TV shows
From 'Empire' and 'The Big Bang Theory' at the top to the bottom
November 23, 2016
Last season “Empire” was the No. 1 non-sports show on broadcast among adults 18-49.
But with ratings for Fox’s hip hop drama down sharply this season, it’s tied for No. 1 with CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory.”
Two months into the season, the two shows are both averaging a 3.4 adults 18-49 rating, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day viewing ratings.
Both shows have slid from last season, though “Empire” (off 22 percent) has taken a bigger hit than “Bang” (off 8 percent).
Those two are the only broadcast non-sports shows above a 3.0 rating this season. The No. 3 program, NBC’s Monday edition of “The Voice,” is averaging a 2.7, with the Tuesday edition right behind with a 2.6, even with last season.
NBC actually has three of the top five – “This Is Us” is the top new show and ranks fifth overall among the non-sports programs at 2.6.
Will “Empire” or “Big Bang” finish on top? It’s hard to say. Both programs have seen ratings declines in recent weeks, so it may be whichever can keep the steadiest numbers will finish on top.
The rest of this season’s top 10 includes “Modern Family,” “60 Minutes,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Kevin Can Wait” and “The Simpsons,” the latter one of the only programs on broadcast that’s up season to date.
If those are the top, then it’s natural to be curious about the bottom of the list.
It’s mostly CW shows, which tend to have lower ratings (they do often see sharp gains with DVRs).
The six lowest-rated programs on broadcast air on the CW, with “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” at the rear, ranking 88th.
The lowest-rated Big Four program is “Nick Cannon’s Caught on Camera,” a hidden camera program that airs on low-rated Fridays. It’s averaging a 0.6.
Right ahead of “Camera” are a number of shows tied with a 0.7: Fox’s “The Exorcist” and “Scream Queens” and CBS’s “Elementary” and “48 Hours” – though “Hours” airs on Saturday night, so its rating is actually not bad.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Nov. 20:
Among adults 18-49, NBC averaged a 2.3 rating and an 8 share, followed by ABC and CBS at 1.5/5, Fox at 1.0/4, Telemundo at 0.7/3, Univision at 0.7/2, CW at 0.5/2, ION at 0.3/1, UniMás at 0.2/1, Estrella TV, Me-TV, Grit and Bounce TV at 0.1/0, and Escape, Azteca and COZI TV at 0.0/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 6.2; 2. NBC’s “Thursday Night Football” 4.2; 3. NBC’s “Football Night in America” 3.3; Tie-4. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” and Fox’s “Empire” 3.1.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” 18.73 million; 2. CBS’s “60 Minutes” 14.89 million; 3. CBS’s “NCIS” 14.73 million; 4. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” 14.34 million; 5. NBC’s “Thursday Night Football” 13.33 million.
Show on the rise: Fox’s “Empire,” Wednesday, 9 p.m. The hip-hop drama was one of few shows to grow week-to-week among 18-49s, going from a 2.9 rating to a 3.1.
Show on the decline: CBS’s “The Great Indoors,” Thursday, 8:30 p.m. The comedy posted a 1.4 rating among 18-49s, off 18 percent from a 1.7 the previous week.
WEEKLY PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
|
|||||||||
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
||||||
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
|
CBS
|
5.5
|
6530
|
10
|
2.9
|
8870
|
8
|
1.5
|
1930
|
5
|
|
NBC
|
5.2
|
6100
|
9
|
2.8
|
8500
|
8
|
2.3
|
2990
|
8
|
|
ABC
|
3.8
|
4550
|
7
|
2.0
|
6140
|
6
|
1.5
|
1880
|
5
|
|
FOX
|
1.9
|
2280
|
3
|
1.0
|
3100
|
3
|
1.0
|
1320
|
4
|
|
UNI
|
1.1
|
1260
|
2
|
0.6
|
1870
|
2
|
0.7
|
840
|
2
|
|
TEL
|
1.0
|
1170
|
2
|
0.6
|
1860
|
2
|
0.7
|
930
|
3
|
|
CW
|
0.9
|
1120
|
2
|
0.5
|
1500
|
1
|
0.5
|
670
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.8
|
910
|
1
|
0.4
|
1150
|
1
|
0.3
|
380
|
1
|
|
METV
|
0.4
|
440
|
1
|
0.2
|
560
|
1
|
0.1
|
80
|
0
|
|
UMA
|
0.3
|
380
|
1
|
0.2
|
620
|
1
|
0.2
|
310
|
1
|
|
GRIT
|
0.3
|
320
|
0
|
0.1
|
400
|
0
|
0.1
|
90
|
0
|
|
BOUNCE
|
0.2
|
270
|
0
|
0.1
|
370
|
0
|
0.1
|
160
|
0
|
|
ETV
|
0.2
|
210
|
0
|
0.1
|
320
|
0
|
0.1
|
140
|
0
|
|
ESCP
|
0.1
|
160
|
0
|
0.1
|
210
|
0
|
0.0
|
60
|
0
|
|
COZ
|
0.1
|
140
|
0
|
0.1
|
170
|
0
|
0.0
|
30
|
0
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
80
|
0
|
0.0
|
110
|
0
|
0.0
|
50
|
0
|
|
MMX
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
0.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
*Each rating point is equivalent to 1 percent or 1.164 million homes
Note: Viewing estimates include same day (3 a.m.-3 a.m.) DVR playback.
Source: Nielsen
|
|||||||||
SEASON-TO-DATE PRIMETIME AVERAGES BY NETWORK
|
|||||||||
|
Network
|
Households
|
People 2+
|
Adults 18-49
|
||||||
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
Rtg%
|
(000)
|
Shr
|
|
|
CBS
|
6.6
|
7860
|
12
|
3.5
|
10650
|
10
|
2.1
|
2710
|
7
|
|
NBC
|
5.7
|
6700
|
10
|
3.0
|
9200
|
9
|
2.6
|
3320
|
9
|
|
ABC
|
4.6
|
5470
|
8
|
2.4
|
7280
|
7
|
1.9
|
2400
|
7
|
|
FOX
|
4.4
|
5270
|
8
|
2.5
|
7560
|
7
|
2.4
|
3060
|
8
|
|
CW
|
1.1
|
1350
|
2
|
0.6
|
1820
|
2
|
0.7
|
840
|
2
|
|
UNI
|
1.0
|
1230
|
2
|
0.6
|
1840
|
2
|
0.7
|
830
|
2
|
|
TEL
|
1.0
|
1150
|
2
|
0.6
|
1770
|
2
|
0.7
|
890
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.8
|
920
|
1
|
0.4
|
1140
|
1
|
0.3
|
360
|
1
|
|
METV
|
0.4
|
450
|
1
|
0.2
|
560
|
1
|
0.1
|
90
|
0
|
|
UMA
|
0.3
|
320
|
0
|
0.2
|
490
|
0
|
0.2
|
240
|
1
|
|
GRIT
|
0.2
|
290
|
0
|
0.1
|
370
|
0
|
0.1
|
80
|
0
|
|
BOUNCE
|
0.2
|
230
|
0
|
0.1
|
310
|
0
|
0.1
|
140
|
0
|
|
ETV
|
0.1
|
170
|
0
|
0.1
|
260
|
0
|
0.1
|
110
|
0
|
|
ESCP
|
0.1
|
160
|
0
|
0.1
|
210
|
0
|
0.1
|
70
|
0
|
|
COZ
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
0.1
|
170
|
0
|
0.0
|
30
|
0
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
70
|
0
|
0.0
|
110
|
0
|
0.0
|
60
|
0
|
|
MMX
|
0.0
|
50
|
0
|
0.0
|
70
|
0
|
0.0
|
20
|
0
|
|
*Each rating point is equivalent to one percent or 1.164 million homes
Note: Season-to-date estimates are a weighted average and Live+7 data, except for the most recent two weeks which are based Live+SD viewing.
|
|||||||||
TOP 25 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
|
||||||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
HOUSEHOLDS |
PERSONS 2+ |
||||
|
Rtg% |
Shr |
(000) |
# |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|||
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
10.8
|
18
|
12,834
|
1
|
6.2
|
18,729
|
|
2
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
9.1
|
15
|
10,785
|
2
|
4.9
|
14,891
|
|
3
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
9.0
|
15
|
10,663
|
2
|
4.9
|
14,731
|
|
4
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
8.7
|
15
|
10,334
|
4
|
4.8
|
14,336
|
|
5
|
NBC+NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
8.1
|
15
|
9,600
|
6
|
4.4
|
13,331
|
|
6
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
8.0
|
13
|
9,506
|
5
|
4.6
|
13,973
|
|
7
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
7.4
|
12
|
8,784
|
8
|
3.8
|
11,339
|
|
8
|
BULL
|
CBS
|
7.3
|
12
|
8,698
|
7
|
3.9
|
11,873
|
|
9
|
BLUE BLOODS
|
CBS
|
6.5
|
13
|
7,725
|
11
|
3.4
|
10,358
|
|
9
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
6.5
|
10
|
7,692
|
9
|
3.5
|
10,427
|
|
11
|
HAWAII FIVE-0
|
CBS
|
6.2
|
11
|
7,353
|
12
|
3.3
|
10,094
|
|
12
|
VOICE
|
NBC
|
6.1
|
10
|
7,233
|
12
|
3.3
|
10,025
|
|
13
|
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
6.0
|
10
|
7,104
|
9
|
3.5
|
10,441
|
|
14
|
THIS IS US
|
NBC
|
5.9
|
10
|
7,042
|
14
|
3.2
|
9,505
|
|
14
|
VOICE-TUE
|
NBC
|
5.9
|
10
|
6,996
|
14
|
3.2
|
9,748
|
|
16
|
NCIS: NEW ORLEANS
|
CBS
|
5.8
|
11
|
6,924
|
16
|
3.0
|
9,173
|
|
17
|
MADAM SECRETARY
|
CBS
|
5.4
|
9
|
6,375
|
17
|
2.8
|
8,516
|
|
18
|
GREY’S ANATOMY
|
ABC
|
5.3
|
9
|
6,270
|
20
|
2.7
|
8,044
|
|
19
|
SURVIVOR
|
CBS
|
5.2
|
9
|
6,165
|
17
|
2.8
|
8,489
|
|
20
|
NBC+NFLN THU NT PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
5.1
|
9
|
6,014
|
20
|
2.7
|
8,239
|
|
20
|
MACGYVER
|
CBS
|
5.1
|
9
|
6,035
|
20
|
2.7
|
8,117
|
|
22
|
EMPIRE
|
FOX
|
5.0
|
9
|
5,950
|
17
|
2.8
|
8,389
|
|
23
|
MOM
|
CBS
|
4.9
|
8
|
5,832
|
24
|
2.5
|
7,637
|
|
24
|
CRIMINAL MINDS
|
CBS
|
4.8
|
8
|
5,675
|
24
|
2.5
|
7,618
|
|
25
|
SCORPION
|
CBS
|
4.7
|
9
|
5,559
|
26
|
2.4
|
7,223
|
|
25
|
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
|
ABC
|
4.7
|
8
|
5,557
|
20
|
2.7
|
8,182
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
||||||||
TOP 25 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
|
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
6.2
|
7,910
|
|
2
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
4.4
|
5,702
|
|
3
|
NBC+NFLN THU NT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
4.2
|
5,395
|
|
4
|
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
3.3
|
4,283
|
|
5
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
3.1
|
4,033
|
|
5
|
EMPIRE
|
FOX
|
3.1
|
3,995
|
|
7
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
2.6
|
3,299
|
|
7
|
THIS IS US
|
NBC
|
2.6
|
3,291
|
|
9
|
NBC+NFLN THU NT PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
2.4
|
3,078
|
|
9
|
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS
|
ABC
|
2.4
|
3,105
|
|
11
|
VOICE
|
NBC
|
2.3
|
2,949
|
|
12
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
2.2
|
2,866
|
|
12
|
GREY’S ANATOMY
|
ABC
|
2.2
|
2,760
|
|
14
|
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2
|
NBC
|
2.1
|
2,642
|
|
14
|
VOICE-TUE
|
NBC
|
2.1
|
2,679
|
|
16
|
NBC+NFLN THU NT PRE-GM2
|
NBC
|
1.9
|
2,406
|
|
16
|
GOLDBERGS, THE
|
ABC
|
1.9
|
2,378
|
|
18
|
SURVIVOR
|
CBS
|
1.8
|
2,262
|
|
19
|
SPEECHLESS
|
ABC
|
1.7
|
2,137
|
|
19
|
LETHAL WEAPON
|
FOX
|
1.7
|
2,173
|
|
19
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
1.7
|
2,209
|
|
19
|
DANCING WITH THE STARS
|
ABC
|
1.7
|
2,128
|
|
23
|
KEVIN CAN WAIT
|
CBS
|
1.6
|
2,020
|
|
23
|
MIDDLE, THE
|
ABC
|
1.6
|
2,049
|
|
23
|
AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE
|
ABC
|
1.6
|
2,037
|
|
23
|
DAVID BLAINE:BEYOND MAGIC
|
ABC
|
1.6
|
2,057
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
||||
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
|
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
EMPIRE
|
FOX
|
24.6
|
5384
|
|
2
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
16.5
|
3722
|
|
3
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
15.7
|
3443
|
|
4
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
11.1
|
2407
|
|
5
|
LETHAL WEAPON
|
FOX
|
10.5
|
2149
|
|
6
|
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
7.6
|
1636
|
|
7
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
7.5
|
1527
|
|
8
|
HOW TO GET AWAY W/MURDER
|
ABC
|
7.4
|
1408
|
|
9
|
SIMPSONS
|
FOX
|
7.3
|
1598
|
|
10
|
VOTE 2016-8:00PM
|
ABC
|
6.7
|
1459
|
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes. |
||||
Tags: broadcast, broadcast recap, caught on camera, crazy ex-girlfriend, empire, the big bang theory, the exorcist
Related News
Cable overnights: Another down week for ‘MNF’
Now you can take a class on writing fake news
The most up-to-date list of midseason premieres
Yes, journalism work was a little safer in 2016
Wearables not as hot as expected in 2016
Big crowd turns out for Michelle Obama farewell
That Nielsen radio snafu may be worse than it appeared
Next year’s 10 most important new TV shows
Predictions: What’s in store for digital advertising in 2017
Introducing Media Life’s Out of Home Premium
Media Life’s Digital Media Transparency Initiative
For ‘Scream Queens,’ approaching game over
Out of home forecast: Healthy, but what’s next?
People
- Duncan Miller becomes director of business development at Deep Focus
- Leo Burnett Detroit CCO Steve Chavez exits
- Kim Perell becomes CEO at Amobee
- Joel Armijo becomes CFO at fuboTV
- David Thewlis, Michael Stulhbarg and Jim Gaffigan join FX's 'Fargo'
- Forest Whitaker joins Disney XD's 'Star Wars Rebels'
- Actor Gordie Tapp dies at age 94
This week’s top-rated movies, songs and books
This week’s daypart ratings
This week’s broadcast ratings
This week’s cable ratings
This month’s digital traffic data: August 2016
This month’s new media traffic data
Freelance media buyer available
Luxury media sales in Chicago
Public relations account supervisor in Atlanta
SEO and SEM manager opening in Pittsburgh
Media supervisor opening in New York