Where the networks stand at midseason
NBC has a big lead over CBS, but the latter has the Super Bowl
January 13, 2016
At midseason, the networks’ true schedule strength starts to emerge.
There are no regularly scheduled football games to disguise ratings shortfalls elsewhere on the schedule, and it’s far enough into the season that new shows have leveled off to viewership levels they’ll sustain for the remainder of the year.
Here’s a look at where the Big Four networks stand at midseason, including a look at each one’s strengths, weaknesses and overall ranking.
There’s also a list of the top upcoming new shows on the networks to keep an eye on, which could have a positive or negative impact on their remaining season.
Remember, last year’s highest-rated new show, “Empire,” didn’t premiere until around this time last year.
***
NBC
Ranks No. 1 in 18-49s with a 2.7
Strengths: The “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med” and “Chicago P.D.” trilogy has posted very solid numbers, and new comedy “Superstore” did surprisingly well in its first two weeks. “Shades of Blue” could be a huge boost for the network if it can sustain its debut numbers. And “The Voice” will lift the network when it returns this spring.
Weaknesses: “The Biggest Loser” probably should have been canceled, and the network’s Sunday night schedule is a big question mark. Without “Celebrity Apprentice” at midseason, NBC is without one of its top reality shows.
Upcoming new show premieres: “You, Me and the Apocalypse” (Thursday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m.)
Outlook: Though ratings will fall from last year, when it carried the Super Bowl, NBC’s scripted programming has gotten stronger. It should finish first or second in the demo.
CBS
Ranks No. 2 in 18-49s with a 2.3
Strengths: “The Big Bang Theory” remains the No. 1 comedy, and nearly all of the network’s shows draw solid, if not standout, ratings. CBS is by far the most consistent network.
Weaknesses: Sunday is CBS’s weakest night, and it’s little surprise the network is tweaking the schedule at midseason, trying “CSI: Cyber” on another night for a couple weeks.
Upcoming new show premieres: “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” (Wednesday, March 16 at 10 p.m.); “Rush Hour” (Thursday, March 31, 10 p.m.)
Outlook: The Super Bowl will give the network a huge boost next month, and it could be enough to finish first in 18-49s for the full season.
Fox
Ranks No. 3 in 18-49s with a 2.0
Strengths: “Empire” is the No. 1 scripted program on broadcast. And “American Idol,” though not what it used to be, is still capable of winning a night.
Weaknesses: The rest of its schedule. Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays are a mess, and Sunday’s long-reliable cartoons have fallen to series lows.
Upcoming new shows: “Lookinglass” (tonight, 9 p.m.); “The X Files” (Sunday, Jan. 24, 10 p.m.), “Lucifer” (Monday, Jan. 25, 9 p.m.)
Outlook: Fox should finish the year stronger than it started with “Idol’s” final season getting lots of buzz.
ABC
Ranks No. 4 in 18-49s with a 1.9
Strengths: Scripted shows including “Modern Family,” “Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “The Goldbergs” are reliable timeslot competitors, and new drama “Quantico” and comedy “Dr. Ken” show promise.
Weaknesses: When ABC misfires, it really misfires – “Wicked City” was a bomb that didn’t fit with its brand, and “Blood and Oil” should have been much better creatively. Without the NFL cushion the other networks enjoy, ABC’s fall is always relatively weak.
Upcoming new shows: “The Real O’Neals” (Wednesday, March 2, 8:30 p.m.); “The Family” (Thursday, March 3, 9 p.m.); “The Catch” (Thursday, March 24, 10 p.m.);
Outlook: Another solid season for “The Bachelor” and another new show that does well could boost the network past Fox as long as “Idol” doesn’t revive too much.
***
In broadcast ratings for the week ended Jan. 10:
Among adults 18-49, CBS averaged a 2.6 rating and a 9 share, followed by Fox at 2.6/8, NBC at 1.9/6, ABC at 1.1/4, Univision at 0.9/3, Telemundo at 0.6/2, CW and ION at 0.3/1, UniMás at 0.2/1, Estrella TV, Me-TV and Bounce TV at 0.1/0, and MundoMax, Azteca and COZI TV at 0.0/0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (18-49s): 1. CBS’s “AFC Wildcard Playoff” 10.1; 2. NBC’s “Golden Globe Awards” 5.5; 3. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” 3.8; 4. Fox’s “The Simpsons” 3.6; 5. Fox’s “American Idol-Wednesday” 3.0.
Top five English-language Big Five shows (total viewers): 1. CBS’s “AFC Wildcard Playoff” 31.23 million; 2. CBS’s “NCIS” 18.97 million; 3. NBC’s “Golden Globe Awards” 18.51 million; 4. CBS’s “NCIS: New Orleans” 17.25 million; 5. CBS’s “The Big Bang Theory” 15.85 million.
Show on the rise: Fox’s “The Simpsons,” Sunday, 8:20 p.m. The long-running animated comedy from late-afternoon playoff football as its lead-in, jumping 80 percent week-to-week among 18-49s from a 2.0 rating to a 3.6.
Show on the decline: ABC’s “Galavant,” Sunday, 8 p.m. The comedy averaged a 0.6 rating among 18-49s, down 33 percent from a 0.9 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
|
7.3
|
8460
|
12
|
4.1
|
12100
|
11
|
2.6
|
3350
|
9
|
|
FOX
|
4.8
|
5540
|
8
|
2.8
|
8210
|
7
|
2.6
|
3280
|
8
|
|
NBC
|
4.7
|
5490
|
8
|
2.5
|
7460
|
7
|
1.9
|
2360
|
6
|
|
ABC
|
2.8
|
3220
|
5
|
1.5
|
4350
|
4
|
1.1
|
1430
|
4
|
|
UNI
|
1.2
|
1430
|
2
|
0.8
|
2290
|
2
|
0.9
|
1090
|
3
|
|
TEL
|
0.9
|
1060
|
2
|
0.6
|
1690
|
2
|
0.6
|
820
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.9
|
1030
|
1
|
0.4
|
1320
|
1
|
0.3
|
400
|
1
|
|
CW
|
0.6
|
750
|
1
|
0.3
|
990
|
1
|
0.3
|
380
|
1
|
|
METV
|
0.4
|
470
|
1
|
0.2
|
610
|
1
|
0.1
|
100
|
0
|
|
UMA
|
0.3
|
350
|
1
|
0.2
|
590
|
1
|
0.2
|
300
|
1
|
|
BOUNCE
|
0.2
|
220
|
0
|
0.1
|
310
|
0
|
0.1
|
140
|
0
|
|
ETV
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
0.1
|
210
|
0
|
0.1
|
90
|
0
|
|
COZ
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
0.1
|
170
|
0
|
0.0
|
30
|
0
|
|
MMX
|
0.1
|
100
|
0
|
0.0
|
140
|
0
|
0.0
|
40
|
0
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
80
|
0
|
0.0
|
130
|
0
|
0.0
|
60
|
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
|
6.9
|
8030
|
12
|
3.7
|
11070
|
10
|
2.3
|
2940
|
8
|
|
NBC
|
5.8
|
6710
|
10
|
3.2
|
9380
|
9
|
2.7
|
3360
|
9
|
|
ABC
|
4.5
|
5190
|
8
|
2.4
|
7060
|
7
|
1.9
|
2410
|
6
|
|
FOX
|
3.7
|
4270
|
6
|
2.0
|
6020
|
5
|
2.0
|
2530
|
7
|
|
CW
|
1.2
|
1390
|
2
|
0.6
|
1860
|
2
|
0.7
|
910
|
2
|
|
UNI
|
1.2
|
1370
|
2
|
0.7
|
2160
|
2
|
0.8
|
1000
|
3
|
|
TEL
|
0.8
|
970
|
1
|
0.5
|
1540
|
1
|
0.6
|
750
|
2
|
|
ION
|
0.8
|
950
|
1
|
0.4
|
1200
|
1
|
0.3
|
380
|
1
|
|
METV
|
0.4
|
470
|
1
|
0.2
|
590
|
1
|
0.1
|
90
|
0
|
|
UMA
|
0.4
|
420
|
1
|
0.2
|
690
|
1
|
0.3
|
350
|
1
|
|
BOUNCE
|
0.2
|
210
|
0
|
0.1
|
320
|
0
|
0.1
|
130
|
0
|
|
ETV
|
0.1
|
150
|
0
|
0.1
|
240
|
0
|
0.1
|
100
|
0
|
|
COZ
|
0.1
|
120
|
0
|
0.0
|
150
|
0
|
0.0
|
30
|
0
|
|
MMX
|
0.1
|
100
|
0
|
0.0
|
150
|
0
|
0.0
|
40
|
0
|
|
AZA
|
0.1
|
80
|
0
|
0.0
|
120
|
0
|
0.0
|
60
|
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
|
AFC WILDCARD PLAYOFF
|
CBS
|
17.5
|
30
|
20,405
|
1
|
10.5
|
31,226
|
|
2
|
FOX NFC WILDCARD POST GUN
|
FOX
|
12.7
|
20
|
14,740
|
2
|
7.8
|
23,043
|
|
3
|
AFC WILDCARD PRE-KICK
|
CBS
|
12.5
|
22
|
14,581
|
3
|
7.5
|
22,159
|
|
4
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
11.5
|
19
|
13,423
|
4
|
6.4
|
18,975
|
|
5
|
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
|
NBC
|
11.1
|
18
|
12,977
|
5
|
6.2
|
18,511
|
|
6
|
NCIS: NEW ORLEANS
|
CBS
|
10.4
|
17
|
12,157
|
6
|
5.8
|
17,253
|
|
7
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
9.7
|
16
|
11,314
|
7
|
5.3
|
15,847
|
|
8
|
SCORPION
|
CBS
|
7.2
|
12
|
8,369
|
8
|
3.9
|
11,670
|
|
9
|
BLUE BLOODS
|
CBS
|
6.7
|
12
|
7,801
|
9
|
3.7
|
10,846
|
|
9
|
NCIS: LOS ANGELES
|
CBS
|
6.7
|
12
|
7,765
|
11
|
3.5
|
10,514
|
|
11
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
6.5
|
11
|
7,584
|
9
|
3.7
|
10,964
|
|
12
|
AMERICAN IDOL-THURSDAY
|
FOX
|
6.1
|
10
|
7,089
|
12
|
3.4
|
10,206
|
|
13
|
HAWAII FIVE-0
|
CBS
|
5.8
|
10
|
6,710
|
13
|
3.2
|
9,413
|
|
13
|
LIFE IN PIECES
|
CBS
|
5.8
|
9
|
6,733
|
14
|
3.1
|
9,270
|
|
15
|
CHICAGO PD
|
NBC
|
5.6
|
10
|
6,490
|
16
|
2.9
|
8,746
|
|
16
|
MADAM SECRETARY
|
CBS
|
5.5
|
8
|
6,369
|
15
|
3.0
|
8,971
|
|
16
|
MOM
|
CBS
|
5.5
|
9
|
6,347
|
16
|
2.9
|
8,715
|
|
16
|
SHADES OF BLUE
|
NBC
|
5.5
|
10
|
6,430
|
16
|
2.9
|
8,550
|
|
19
|
CHICAGO MED
|
NBC
|
5.3
|
10
|
6,171
|
20
|
2.8
|
8,392
|
|
19
|
SUPERGIRL
|
CBS
|
5.3
|
8
|
6,160
|
16
|
2.9
|
8,747
|
|
21
|
ANGEL FROM HELL
|
CBS
|
5.1
|
9
|
5,990
|
23
|
2.7
|
8,135
|
|
21
|
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
|
NBC
|
5.1
|
8
|
5,907
|
24
|
2.6
|
7,838
|
|
23
|
BACHELOR, THE
|
ABC
|
5.0
|
8
|
5,796
|
27
|
2.5
|
7,553
|
|
23
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
5.0
|
8
|
5,822
|
20
|
2.8
|
8,351
|
|
25
|
BLACKLIST
|
NBC
|
4.8
|
8
|
5,581
|
27
|
2.5
|
7,522
|
|
25
|
GOOD WIFE, THE
|
CBS
|
4.8
|
7
|
5,554
|
24
|
2.6
|
7,652
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
||||||||
TOP 25 PROGRAMS - BROADCAST
|
||||
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
Rtg% |
(000) |
|
1
|
AFC WILDCARD PLAYOFF
|
CBS
|
10.1
|
12,780
|
|
2
|
FOX NFC WILDCARD POST GUN
|
FOX
|
8.1
|
10,260
|
|
3
|
AFC WILDCARD PRE-KICK
|
CBS
|
6.8
|
8,637
|
|
4
|
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS
|
NBC
|
5.5
|
6,916
|
|
5
|
BIG BANG THEORY, THE
|
CBS
|
3.8
|
4,822
|
|
6
|
SIMPSONS
|
FOX
|
3.6
|
4,559
|
|
7
|
AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY
|
FOX
|
3.0
|
3,744
|
|
8
|
MODERN FAMILY
|
ABC
|
2.8
|
3,498
|
|
9
|
AMERICAN IDOL-THURSDAY
|
FOX
|
2.7
|
3,409
|
|
9
|
NCIS
|
CBS
|
2.7
|
3,379
|
|
11
|
NCIS: NEW ORLEANS
|
CBS
|
2.5
|
3,110
|
|
12
|
BACHELOR, THE
|
ABC
|
2.2
|
2,839
|
|
12
|
SCORPION
|
CBS
|
2.2
|
2,748
|
|
14
|
BLACK-ISH
|
ABC
|
2.1
|
2,618
|
|
14
|
COOPER BARRETT’S GUIDE
|
FOX
|
2.1
|
2,621
|
|
14
|
GOLDBERGS, THE
|
ABC
|
2.1
|
2,666
|
|
14
|
LIFE IN PIECES
|
CBS
|
2.1
|
2,702
|
|
14
|
MIDDLE, THE
|
ABC
|
2.1
|
2,648
|
|
19
|
CHICAGO MED
|
NBC
|
1.9
|
2,379
|
|
19
|
CHICAGO PD
|
NBC
|
1.9
|
2,384
|
|
19
|
SUPERGIRL
|
CBS
|
1.9
|
2,366
|
|
22
|
CHICAGO FIRE
|
NBC
|
1.8
|
2,318
|
|
22
|
FAMILY GUY
|
FOX
|
1.8
|
2,340
|
|
22
|
LAW AND ORDER:SVU
|
NBC
|
1.8
|
2,234
|
|
22
|
MOM
|
CBS
|
1.8
|
2,276
|
|
22
|
SHADES OF BLUE
|
NBC
|
1.8
|
2,300
|
|
22
|
SUPERSTORE
|
NBC
|
1.8
|
2,220
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
||||
SPANISH-LANGUAGE TELEVISION
|
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+ (000) |
|
1
|
YO NO CREO EN HOMBRES MTW.F..
|
UNI
|
9.0
|
2107
|
|
2
|
C. CERRADO-ED. ESTELAR MTW….
|
TEL
|
8.4
|
1907
|
|
3
|
PASION Y PODER MTW.F..
|
UNI
|
8.3
|
1999
|
|
4
|
SENORA ACERO II MTW.F..
|
TEL
|
8.1
|
2246
|
|
5
|
AQUI Y AHORA SUN
|
UNI
|
7.9
|
1797
|
|
6
|
CELIA - MTW….
|
TEL
|
7.9
|
1769
|
|
7
|
MUCHACHA ITALIANA CAS MTW.F..
|
UNI
|
7.8
|
1848
|
|
8
|
ANTES MUERTA LICHITA MTW.F..
|
UNI
|
7.7
|
1923
|
|
9
|
PARODIANDO 3 SUN
|
UNI
|
7.6
|
1785
|
|
10
|
FELIZ 2016 2 12/31(S)-12/31/2015
|
UNI
|
7.1
|
1918
|
|
11
|
BAJO EL MISMO CIELO - MTW.F..
|
TEL
|
7.0
|
1760
|
|
12
|
SAL Y PIMIENTA SUN
|
UNI
|
6.4
|
1405
|
|
13
|
FELIZ 2016 1 12/31(S)-12/31/2015
|
UNI
|
6.1
|
1468
|
|
14
|
ROSA DE GUADALUPE PT SAT(S)-01/02/2016
|
UNI
|
4.9
|
1104
|
|
15
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN 2
|
UMA
|
4.5
|
1129
|
|
15
|
CINE MILLONARIO SUN II
|
TEL
|
4.5
|
1295
|
|
15
|
PREMIO LO NUESTRO15 12/31(S)-12/31/2015
|
UNI
|
4.5
|
1033
|
|
18
|
CINE DE LAS ESTREL SUN
|
UMA
|
4.3
|
1066
|
|
18
|
GI(S)-01/01/2016
|
TEL
|
4.3
|
1221
|
|
20
|
SABADAZO SAT
|
UNI
|
4.1
|
949
|
|
21
|
FESTIVAL FIN DE ANO III(S)-12/31/2015
|
TEL
|
3.8
|
974
|
|
22
|
CINE CANTINFLAS SAT
|
UMA
|
3.5
|
875
|
|
23
|
CINEPLEX (PT) SAT
|
UMA
|
3.3
|
870
|
|
24
|
COMO UN SUENO 1/02(S)-01/02/2016
|
TEL
|
2.9
|
751
|
|
25
|
CINEPLEX 01/01/16-06(S)-01/01/2016
|
UMA
|
2.7
|
734
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
||||
HISPANIC ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VIEWING
|
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
8.0
|
1923
|
|
2
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
5.2
|
1165
|
|
3
|
PRIMETIME NYRE ’16 PT 2(S)-12/31/2015
|
ABC
|
4.6
|
1375
|
|
4
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
3.7
|
790
|
|
4
|
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
3.7
|
805
|
|
6
|
PRIMETIME NYRE ’16 PT 1(S)-12/31/2015
|
ABC
|
2.8
|
710
|
|
7
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
2.7
|
620
|
|
8
|
ABC W NEWS TONIGHT-12/31(S)-12/31/2015
|
ABC
|
2.5
|
576
|
|
9
|
UNDERCOVER BOSS 1/3-SP(S)-01/03/2016
|
CBS
|
2.4
|
485
|
|
10
|
ABC W NEWS TONIGHT-1/1(S)-01/01/2016
|
ABC
|
2.3
|
513
|
|
Source: Nielsen |
||||
AFRICAN AMERICAN AUDIENCE ESTIMATES
|
||||
|
# |
PROGRAMS |
Net |
Rtg |
P2+(000) |
|
1
|
NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
|
NBC
|
15.1
|
3142
|
|
2
|
SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK
|
NBC
|
10.3
|
2145
|
|
3
|
OT, THE
|
FOX
|
9.1
|
1884
|
|
4
|
FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3
|
NBC
|
7.9
|
1620
|
|
5
|
60 MINUTES
|
CBS
|
7.4
|
1420
|
|
6
|
EMPIRE ENCORE
|
FOX
|
6.4
|
1274
|
|
7
|
KENNEDY CENTER HONORS
|
CBS
|
5.9
|
1142
|
|
8
|
NCIS-ENC
|
CBS
|
5.7
|
1142
|
|
9
|
ROSEWOOD-SP 12/30 9P
|
FOX
|
5.5
|
1100
|
|
* Ratings based on 13.65 million African American TV homes. |
||||
Tags: abc, broadcast, broadcast ratings, broadcast recap, broadcast standings, cbs, fox, nbc, new shows
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