TV Ratings: The Grammys Tops With Total Viewers

CBS’ Tuesday night of drama on Tuesday and Dick Wolf’s trilogy of “Chicago” series Wednesday on NBC are shaping up at broadcast TV's dominant evening, according to The Associated Press citing Nielsen data.

Even though it has been on the air since 2003, CBS’ “NCIS” continues a remarkable streak of popularity. With nearly 11.4 million viewers on the night it aired last Tuesday, it was the only television show aside from The Grammys to pass the 10 million mark last week, at least before delayed viewing is counted in.

Paired with “FBI,” it makes for a strong one-two punch of action for CBS on Tuesdays. The newer “FBI: Most Wanted” has some distance to go before reaching that level.

Wolf is a proven television hitmaker, and NBC does very well on Wednesdays with his three dramas that focus on a Chicago hospital, police department and fire department. All three finished among Nielsen’s top 10 shows last week.

CBS won the week in prime time, averaging 7.2 million viewers. ABC eked out a second place showing, averaging 4 million viewers, while NBC had 3.9 million. Fox had 2.4 million, Univision had 1.5 million, ION Television had 1.3 million, Telemundo had 1.1 million and the CW had 690,000.

⏩ Top 20 Broadcast TV Prime-Time (Total Viewers):

1. “Grammy Awards,” CBS, 18.69 million.
2. “NCIS,” CBS, 11.37 million.
3. “FBI,” CBS, 9.25 million.
4. “Chicago Med,” NBC, 8.44 million.
5. “Chicago Fire,” NBC, 8.19 million.
6. “Grammy Awards Red Carpet,” CBS, 7.19 million.
7. “America’s Got Talent Champions,” NBC, 7.05 million.
8. “Station 19,” ABC, 7.02 million.
9. “Chicago PD, NBC, 6.92 million.
10. “The Neighborhood,” CBS, 6.81 million.

11. “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC, 6.67 million.
12. “This Is Us,” NBC, 6.7 million.
13. “FBI: Most Wanted,” CBS, 6.6 million.
14. “Bob Hearts Abishola,” CBS, 6.51 million.
15. “The Bachelor,” ABC, 6.29 million.
16. “Bull,” CBS, 6.05 million.
17. “911: Lone Star,” Fox, 5.95 million.
18. “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” ABC, 5.86 million.
19. “All Rise,” CBS, 5.81 million.
20. “Young Sheldon,” CBS, 5.6 million.

ABC’s “World News Tonight” won the evening news ratings race, averaging 9.1 million viewers. NBC’s “Nightly News” had 7.9 million viewers and the “CBS Evening News” had 5.9 million.

News dominated the cable ratings last week with President Donald Trump’s impeachment hearings. Fox News Channel averaged 3.32 million ratings in prime time, MSNBC had 1.96 million, ESPN had 1.22 million, TLC had 1.2 million and CNN had 1.18 million.

In Jan. 2020, FNC averaged 1.7 million viewers in the 6 a.m. – 6 a.m. daypart, marking 43 consecutive months as the most-watched basic cable network in that daypart. The 1.7 million represents the network’s largest total day audience since Feb. 2017.

Fox News averaged 2.9 million total viewers in prime time in Jan. 2020,  which is the network’s largest prime time audience since Nov. 2016, the month of the most recent presidential election.

TV Newser reports the network also released a statement today celebrating 18 consecutive years as the most-watched cable news network. FNC first became No. 1 in total viewers at the end of the Nielsen month in Jan. 2002.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS and Fox are leading the broadcast networks in ratings halfway the 2019-20 season. Through 18 weeks — the midpoint of the traditional September-to-May season — CBS is in its familiar position of being the most-watched broadcaster, a title it has held for 11 straight years. Fox is the leader in the key ad-sales demographic of adults 18-49, and its cushion will only grow with the network's broadcast of the Super Bowl on Sunday. Last year, CBS' broadcast of the game lifted the network's season average two-tenths of a point over the previous week.