TV Ratings: 'AGT' Again Helps NBC Win

The CBS crime series “Instinct” was the 20th most-watched program on the Nielsen company’s weekly list, and the only comedy or drama scripted series to make the Top 20. There were no scripted series that were among the 40 most popular cable programs last week, either.

According to The Associated Press, that’s a reflection of the time of year and changing viewing habits. Broadcast networks rarely bother with scripted series when viewership is down over the summer. Cable doesn’t have much, either, and with streaming services getting people in the habit of choosing to watch TV on their own time, there are few series on that people rush to watch when it first airs.

Without scripted series, Nielsen’s Top 20 last week was crowded with game shows and, in the wake of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony before the House, five of Fox News Channel’s prime time programs.

NBC won the week in prime time, averaging 3.4 million viewers. ABC had 3.1 million, CBS had 2.8 million, Fox had 1.6 million, ION Television had 1.5 million, Telemundo had 1.2 million, Univision had 1 million and the CW had 600,000.

Fox News Channel was the week’s most popular cable network, averaging 2.73 million viewers. MSNBC had 1.54 million, HGTV had 1.27 million, Hallmark had 1.26 million and USA had 1.2 million.

Fox News is finishing this month as the No. 1 basic cable network in total viewers across the 6 a.m. – 6 a.m. time period, marking 37 consecutive months that it has been No. 1 among total viewers in that particular daypart. FNC will also end the month of July as the most-watched basic cable network in prime time.

Bad news for CNN, it continues to post more significant year-over-year losses than its competitors, and finished a distant third place behind Fox News and MSNBC in prime time. The network ranked No. 13 across basic cable in total prime time audience.

MSNBC appears to be losing steam right now among adults 25-54. The network had its lowest-rated month among adults 25-54 since President Trump took office. The network was -28% in prime time and -32% in the total day demo vs. what the network averaged in July 2018. It also finished behind CNN in the total day demo.

ABC’s “World News Tonight” topped the evening newscasts with an average of 8 million viewers. NBC’s “Nightly News” was second with 7 million and the “CBS Evening News” had 4.7 million.

⏩ Broadcast Primetime viewership numbers compiled by Nielsen for July 22-28:

1. “America’s Got Talent,” NBC, 10.13 million.
2. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 6.81 million.
3. “The Bachelorette,” ABC, 6.62 million.
4. “Celebrity Family Feud,” ABC, 5.62 million.
5. “The $100,000 Pyramid,” ABC, 4.81 million.
6. “Hannity” (Wednesday), Fox News, 4.77 million.
7. “American Ninja Warrior,” NBC, 4.74 million.
8. “Bring the Funny,” NBC, 4.33 million.
9. “Big Brother” (Sunday), CBS, 4.302 million.
10. “Tucker Carlson Tonight” (Wednesday), Fox News, 4.3 million.

11. “Hannity” (Thursday), Fox News, 4.15 million.
12. “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” ABC, 4.12 million.
13. “Dateline NBC” (Monday), NBC, 4.04 million.
14. “Big Brother” (Thursday), CBS, 3.896 million.
15. “Big Brother” (Wednesday), CBS, 3.895 million.
16. “The Ingraham Angle” (Wednesday), Fox News, 3.83 million.
17. “Press Your Luck,” ABC, 3.66 million.
18. “Tucker Carlson Tonight” (Thursday), Fox News, 3.48 million.
19. “To Tell the Truth,” ABC, 3.46 million.
20. “Instinct,” CBS, 3.35 million.