Though the 2023-2024 TV season isn’t over yet, CBS is on track to maintain its title as the most-watched network for the 16th season in a row. Provided it stays on top over the next month, the broadcaster would break its own record for the longest-ever winning streak, which was set between 1955 and 1970.
According to Live + 7 data measured by Nielsen through April 21, CBS is averaging 5.59 million viewers, putting it 580,000 ahead of its closest competitor, which is NBC with an average 5.01 million viewers. ABC and Fox trail behind at 4.29 million and 3.35 million viewers, respectively.
The winning lineup is led by “Tracker,” the Justin Hartley-led drama series that is not only the most-watched new series of the season but the most-watched series overall. Behind “Tracker,” CBS also has the next three most-watched shows: “NCIS,” “Young Sheldon” and “FBI.” The No. 5 series is NBC’s “Chicago Fire,” followed by two more CBS titles, “Blue Bloods” and “60 Minutes,” which is the No. 1 news program. NBC airs the No. 8 title, “Chicago Med,” and the top 10 is rounded out by “Ghosts” and “The Equalizer,” both on CBS. That means eight of the 10 most-watched series of the season run on CBS. Out of the top 20, CBS airs 13.
When looking at new series, behind “Tracker” is “Elsbeth” followed by “NCIS: Sydney” — both CBS titles, while the third through 10th-most-watched series air on other networks. CBS is also home to the top four comedies of the season. Behind “Young Sheldon” and “Ghosts” are “The Neighborhood” and “Bob Hearts Abhishola.”
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Additionally, according to a combination of Nielsen data and Paramount Global’s internal data and inclusive of streaming, CBS programming has been viewed for a total of 456 billion minutes watched from Jan. 1 to April 21. That puts it 30% above the next closest competitor, Netflix (inclusive only of Netflix’s original content, not its acquired titles), with 350.1 billion. Next is NBC with 215.1 billion, then ABC with 213 billion and Fox with 82.7 billion. Amazon originals were streamed for 49.9 billion minutes in that time, while Hulu, Apple TV+, Disney+, Peacock and Max originals all follow with less than 30 billion minutes viewed.
Also among the network’s victories are its position as the No. 1 broadcaster in primetime among African American viewers, the top ratings-bringer in the adults age 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54 demographics, the No. 1 in late night for the seventh consecutive season and the No. 1 in daytime for the 38th consecutive season.
In Multiplatform + 35, which accounts for 35 days of viewing inclusive of streaming, CBS’ primetime lineup averages 10.1 million viewers. Nielsen’s Live + 35 data combined with Paramount Global’s own measurement of streams on Paramount+ puts “Tracker” at an average of 20.4 million viewers after 35 days. “Young Sheldon” and “NCIS” are tied as the next-most-watched series in MP+35 with 12.9 million viewers, followed by “Ghosts” with 11.9 million and “FBI” with 11.7 million. See MP+35 data for all of CBS’ primetime lineup below.
