weekly network ratings

NBC’s primetime broadcast viewership for the second week of the Tokyo Games was down 46% compared to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics of 2016, Nielsen said. In the first week, NBC was down 52% compared to Rio. For the week, NBC averaged 10.6 million viewers in primetime. CBS had 2.3 million, Fox had 2.1 million, ABC had 1.9 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 960,000. Fox News Channel was the most-watched cable network in primetime, averaging 2.06 million viewers.

The numbers are sobering: Sunday’s NBC audience of 13 million was down 51% from the 26.7 million who watched the corresponding night in Rio five years ago. Saturday night was down 57%, last Wednesday down 53% and Tuesday down 58%, according to Nielsen. NBC averaged 13.4 million viewers in primetime last week. CBS had 2.22 million, ABC had 2.17 million, Univision had 1.9 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million, and Fox and Telemundo tied with 980,000. Fox News Channel led the cable networks with an average of 1.95 million viewers in primetime. USA had 1.68 million, MSNBC had 1.1 million, HGTV had 979,000 and TLC had 882,000.

For three straight nights, viewership for the Tokyo Games has been down more than 30% compared to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, and the network has been hit by a steady stream of bad news regarding American competitors and it’s discussing makegoods with advertisers. However, the numbers did allow NBC to easily win the week’s primetime ratings competition with an average of 8.1 million viewers. ABC had 3.5 million, CBS had 2.3 million, Univision had 1.6 million, Fox had 1.3 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 950,000. Fox News Channel led cable networks, averaging 2.05 million viewers in primetime.

NBC won last week with an average of 2.9 million viewers in primetime. CBS was second with 2.6 million, ABC had 2.3 million, Fox had 1.6 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 1 million. TNT, riding three games of the NBA Conference Finals, led the cable networks with an average of 2.141 million in prime time. Fox News Channel had 2.139 million, ESPN had 1.58 million, MSNBC had 1.36 million and HGTV had 1.09 million.

America’s Got Talent, which is well-established as TV’s favorite live show of the summer, reached seven million viewers last week with auditions for its 16th season on NBC. The network also won the week with an average of 3.5 million viewers in primetime. CBS had 3 million, ABC had 2.7 million, Fox had 1.7 million, Univision had 1.2 million, Ion Television had 1.02 million and Telemundo had 990,000. ESPN won a tight race for cable supremacy, averaging 2.19 million viewers in primetime. TNT had 2.18 million, Fox News Channel had 2.15 million, MSNBC had 1.32 million and HGTV had 1.13 million.

The broadcast networks made a swift turn into summer last week, with NBC’s America’s Got Talent topping the ratings upon its return. CBS led for the week, averaging 3.3 million viewers in primetime. ABC had 3.17 million, NBC had 3.16 million, Fox had 1.7 million, Univision had 1.5 million, Ion Television had 970,000 and Telemundo had 880,000. TNT led the cable news networks, averaging 2.36 million viewers in primetime last week. Fox News Channel had 1.94 million, HGTV had 1.25 million, MSNBC had 1.23 million and TBS had 938,000.

CBS averaged 6.28 million primetime viewers in Nielsen’s measurement of live-plus-seven viewing, which includes everyone who watched a particular program live and within the next week. CBS has won 18 of the last 19 years, the one-time exception being Fox when American Idol dominated TV.

The CBS drama has been on the air since 2003. Yet the 8.7 million people who watched last Tuesday’s episode was a bigger audience than anything else in primetime television last week. Plus, it also was No. 1 on Nielsen’s most recent streaming rankings. CBS was the most popular broadcast network last week, averaging 4.6 million viewers in primetime. NBC had 3.7 million, ABC had 3.5 million, Fox had 2.6 million, Univision had 1.3 million and Telemundo had 1 million. Fox News Channel was the most popular cable network with a 2.04 million average in primetime. MSNBC had 1.43 million, TNT had 1.39 million, ESPN had 1.38 million and HGTV had 1.12 million.

The Chuck Lorre-produced comedy starring Allison Janney ended last with her title character in an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. The episode attracted 6.2 million viewers, the biggest audience of its final season.

With another television season winding down, CBS was the most-watched network in primetime last week, averaging 5 million viewers. NBC had 3.7 million, ABC had 2.9 million, Fox had 2.3 million, Univision had 1.29 million, Telemundo had 1.27 million and Ion Television had 930,000. Fox News Channel led the cable networks, averaging 2.29 million viewers in primetime. MSNBC had 1.44 million, HGTV had 1.19 million, CNN had 915,000 and TNT had 905,000.

In primetime last week, CBS was the most-watched network with an average 4.8 million viewers. NBC had 3.2 million, ABC had 3 million, Fox had 2.3 million, Univision had 1.3 million and Telemundo had 960,000. Fox News Channel topped the cable networks, averaging 2.1 million viewers in primetime. MSNBC had 1.5 million, HGTV had 1.2 million and CNN had 907,000.

CBS was the most-watched network in primetime last week, averaging 4.8 million viewers. ABC had 3.2 million, NBC had 2.9 million, Fox had 2.1 million, Univision had 1.2 million, Ion Television had 1 million and Telemundo had 920,000. Fox News Channel led the cable networks, averaging 2.2 million viewers in prime time. ESPN had 2.04 million, MSNBC had 1.59 million, HGTV had 1.3 million and CNN had 1.1 million.

The Oscars were enough to give ABC a victory in the primetime ratings with an average of 4.1 million viewers last week. CBS had 3.8 million, NBC had 3.5 million, Fox had 2.7 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Telemundo had 1.03 million, Ion Television had 970,000 and the CW had 530,000. Fox News Channel led the cable networks with an average of 2.23 million viewers. MSNBC had 1.45 million, HGTV had 1.29 million, TNT had 1.15 million and ESPN had 1.1 million.

CBS averaged 4.45 million viewers last week, followed by ABC with 3.6 million. NBC had 3.1 million, Fox had 2 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Telemundo had 1.07 million, Ion had 1.05 million and The CW had 710,000. Fox News Channel led the cable networks, averaging 2.23 million viewers in primetime. MSNBC had 1.48 million, HGTV had 1.36 million, CNN had 1.05 million and TBS had 947,000.

CBS handily won in the primetime ratings last week, averaging 6.1 million viewers. ABC had 3.8 million viewers, NBC had 3.7 million, Fox had 1.8 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 940,000. Fox News Channel led the cable networks, averaging 2.13 million viewers in primetime. TBS had 1.61 million, MSNBC had 1.59 million, ESPN had 1.42 million and HGTV had 1.16 million.

In the period between President Biden’s inauguration and mid-March, Newsmax averaged 207,400 viewers — a 24% decrease, according to Nielsen. CBS was the top broadcast entertainment network last week, averaging 4.5 million viewers in primetime. ABC had 3.6 million, NBC had 2.9 million, Fox had 2 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 930,000. And last week in primetime, Fox News averaged 2.33 million viewers, MSNBC had 1.58 million and CNN had 1.13 million.

The taped season finale of ABC’s The Bachelor with Chris Harrison reached 6.1 million viewers last Monday and the “After the Final Rose” special, hosted by Emmanuel Acho, was seen by 5.67 million, Nielsen said. CBS won the week in the ratings, with an average of 4.5 million viewers in primetime. NBC had 3.6 million, ABC had 3.4 million, Fox had 2 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Ion Television had 1.2 million and Telemundo had 1.1 million.

That’s enough for television executives to worry about whether this is just pandemic-related or if they can no longer depend on these traditional attention-getting events. CBS won the week, averaging 4.9 million viewers in primetime. NBC had 4 million, ABC had 3.4 million, Fox had 2.6 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Ion Television had 1.2 million and Telemundo had 1 million. Fox News led the cable networks, averaging 2.45 million viewers in primetime. MSNBC had 1.84 million, CNN had 1.29 million, HGTV had 1.15 million and ESPN had 1.06 million.

Powered by Oprah Winfrey and royals Prince Harry and Meghan, CBS won last week with an average of 6 million viewers in primetime. ABC had 3.5 million, NBC had 3.2 million, Fox had 2.5 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 1 million. Fox News led the cable networks, averaging 2.37 million viewers in primetime. MSNBC had 1.88 million, TNT had 1.41 million, CNN had 1.25 million and HGTV had 1.11 million.

CBS was the most-watched network in primetime last week, averaging 4.5 million viewers. ABC had 3.9 million, NBC had 3.4 million, Fox had 2.3 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Ion Television had 1.2 million and Telemundo had 1 million. Fox News Channel topped the cable networks, averaging 2.46 million viewers in primetime.

CBS won the week with an average of 4.6 million viewers in primetime. ABC had 3.9 million, NBC had 3.5 million, Fox had 2.6 million, Univision had 1.6 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 1 million.

The revenge drama came in third place last week and had a major, and inevitable, drop after drawing 20 million viewers in the most coveted of all time slots after the network’s airing of the Super Bowl. For the week, CBS was the most-watched broadcast network, averaging 5.2 million viewers in primetime. ABC had 3.8 million, NBC had 3.2 million, Fox had 2.9 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Ion Television had 1 million and Telemundo had 990,000.

Several programs on MSNBC and CNN had their most-watched months ever in January, the Nielsen company said. CNN as a network did so, too, in a newsy month where the Capitol insurrection and President Joe Biden’s inauguration left a lot to talk about. For last week, CBS was the most-watched broadcast network, averaging 4.7 million viewers in prime time. ABC had 3.6 million, NBC had 3 million, Fox had 2.6 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Telemundo had 1.12 million and Ion Television had 1.11 million.

Nielsen said that 33.8 million people watched Biden’s inauguration over 17 television networks between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. last Wednesday. Among the broadcast networks, CBS easily won last week in the ratings, averaging 10.4 million viewers. ABC had 3.4 million, Fox had 2.7 million, NBC had 2.5 million, Univision had 1.2 million, while Ion Television and Telemundo each averaged 1.1 million.

NFL and college football and sturdy drama franchises including the Chicago shows on NBC and the NCIS group on CBS were among the week’s ratings winners. ESPN was the most-watched cable network in primetime, averaging 3.2 million for the week. CNN had 3.1 million, MSNBC had 2.7 million and HGTV had 1.1 million.

CNN averaged 5.2 million viewers last Wednesday, eclipsing its previous high of 5.1 million on Election Day 2016, Nielsen said. NBC, led by a strong NFL playoff game Sunday night between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers, was the top broadcast network last week, averaging 8.6 million viewers in primetime. CBS had 5.7 million, ABC had 3.8 million, Fox had 2.5 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 920,000.

Fox averaged 7.3 million viewers in primetime for the week ending Dec. 13. NBC was second with 5.2 million viewers, CBS had 4.6 million, ABC had 3.8 million, Univision had 1.4 million, Telemundo had 1.01 million and Ion Television had 960,000.

However, Fox News was still the top-rated cable network in primetime last week, averaging 2.98 million viewers. ESPN averaged 2.58 million, MSNBC had 2.18 million, CNN had 2.05 million and Hallmark had 1.43 million. NBC was the top-rated broadcast network last week with an average of 6.3 million viewers. Fox had 5.8 million, CBS had 4.5 million, ABC had 4.2 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Telemundo had 990,000 and Ion Television 980,000.

NBC was the most popular network last, averaging 5.9 million viewers in primetime. ABC had 4.94 million viewers and Fox had 4.89 million. CBS averaged 4.1 million, Univision had 1.2 million and both Ion Television and Telemundo averaged just under 1 million viewers.

CNN edged Fox among total viewers for the week, averaging 5.9 million viewers to Fox’s 5.7 million. The latter was dominant on Tuesday as President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden faced off at the polls. Among the broadcast networks last week, NBC was the week’s most-watched network in primetime (powered by a NFL game), reaching an average of 6.33 million viewers. CBS had 4.95 million, Fox had 4.3 million, ABC had 4.1 million, Univision had 1.34 million, Telemundo had 1.1 million, Ion Television had 1.09 million and The CW had 580,000.

The 17.4 million people who watched the CBS newsmagazine, featuring interviews with Trump and Democratic opponent Joe Biden, was the show’s biggest audience in more than two years. Behind the World Series, Fox was the most popular broadcast network in primetime last week, averaging 8.2 million viewers. NBC had 5.8 million viewers, ABC had 4.6 million, CBS had 4.4 million, Ion Television had 1.2 million, Univision had 1.1 million, Telemundo had 1 million and the CW had 620,000.

Television’s other big competition last week was Thursday’s dueling town halls with President Donald Trump on NBC and Democratic opponent Joe Biden on ABC. In an upset — since the former reality TV star president has always had drawing power — Biden won, 14.2 million viewers to 13.5 million. Fox was the most popular broadcast network last week, averaging 5.2 million viewers. CBS had 4.9 million, ABC had 4.6 million, NBC had 4.5 million, Ion Television had 1.2 million, Univision had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 920,000. Fox News Channel led the cable networks, averaging 4.25 million viewers in primetime.

You can tell it’s a presidential election year. Collectively, the news networks CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC averaged just under 10 million viewers in primetime last week, or 72% more than the same week in 2019. CBS won the week in primetime among the broadcast networks, averaging 5.8 million viewers. ABC had 5.7 million, NBC had 4.9 million, Fox had 4.3 million, Univision had 1.14 million, Telemundo had 1.06 million and Ion Television had 1.04 million.

Last week, Saturday Night Live scored its biggest season premiere audience in four years and second best in 12 years, emphasizing the importance of presidential election time for the NBC comedy show. During a busy week for news and sports, Saturday Night Live was the most-watched entertainment show, despite starting at 11:35 p.m. on the East Coast.

A schedule of opening week games brought viewers back to their sets last week, led by a Hall of Fame caliber matchup between Tom Brady, a new member of the Tampa Bay Bucs, and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.

The controversial Fox News Channel personality had all five of his weeknight programs land in the Nielsen company’s 20 most popular programs last week. Four of them were in the Top 10. For the broadcast networks, NBC, with 2.82 million, narrowly edged ABC’s 2.81 million viewers. CBS had 2.6 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Ion Television had 1.2 million, Fox had 1.17 million and Telemundo had 1.1 million.

Fox News Channel was easily the most watched network, cable or broadcast, of the week with an average of 5.1 million viewers in primetime. NBC was the most popular broadcast network last week, averaging 2.77 million viewers in primetime. ABC had 2.75 million, CBS had 2.4 million, Ion Television had 1.3 million, Univision had 1.2 million Fox had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 1 million.

The “World News Tonight” anchor’s nightly summary averaged 8.2 million viewers last week, more than any primetime program on television, according to Nielsen.

CBS was the most popular broadcast network in primetime, averaging 3.2 million viewers. NBC had 2.8 million, ABC had 2.4 million, Fox had 1.5 million, Univision had 1.3 million, Ion Television had 1.2 million and Telemundo had 1 million.

In primetime last week, CBS topped broadcasters with an average of 3.7 million viewers. NBC had 2.7 million viewers, ABC had 2.3 million, Fox and Univision had 1.3 million, Ion Television had 1.1 million and Telemundo had 930,000.