“NCIS” and “FBI” were last week’s only prime-time programs to average more than 8 million viewers, helping lead CBS to its 15th victory in 16 weeks, according to live-plus-same-day figures released Tuesday by Nielsen.
“NCIS” averaged 9.679 million viewers for its sixth first-place finish in the 33-week-old 2020-21 television season. Viewership was up 13.3% from the 8.546-million average the previous week, when the action drama also finished first.
“NCIS” is the only scripted series to win a week this season.
“FBI,” which follows “NCIS,” averaged 8.061 million viewers, 6.5% more than its 7.568-million average the previous week when it finished third.
CBS also had the week’s third- and fourth-most watched programs — “60 Minutes” and “The Equalizer,” which averaged 7.775 million and 7.224 million, respectively — the most-watched comedy, “Young Sheldon,” seventh for the week, averaging 6.642 million viewers, and the most-watched program beginning at 10 p.m., “Blue Bloods,” ninth for the week averaging 5.87 million viewers.
Two series in NBC’s “Chicago” franchise were the most-watched non-CBS programs. “Chicago Fire,” was fifth for the week, averaging 7.221 million viewers. “Chicago Med,” which precedes “Chicago Fire,” was sixth, averaging 7.087 million viewers. “Chicago P.D.” was 11th for the week and second among 10 p.m. programs, averaging 5.668 million viewers.
CBS averaging 4.82 million viewers for its 22 hours of prime-time programming between May 3 and Sunday for its 17th victory of the season. NBC was second, averaging 3.22 million, and ABC third, averaging 2.99 million.
NBC and ABC also aired 22 hours of prime-time programming.
Fox was fourth for the 15th consecutive week, averaging 2.31 million viewers for its 15 hours, nine minutes of programming. The CW again was fifth among the five major English-language broadcast networks, averaging 520,000 viewers for its 12 hours.
The Sunday edition of “American Idol” was ABC’s most-watched program for the sixth consecutive week it has aired, averaging 5.744 million viewers, 10th for the week.
Fox’s most-watched program was the procedural drama “9-1-1” which averaged 5.911 million viewers, eighth for the week. A “9-1-1” episode has been Fox’s most-watched program all 11 weeks it has aired this season.
The crime drama “Walker” was The CW’s most-watched program, averaging 979,000 viewers, 123rd among broadcast programs. Its overall rank was not available.
The most-watched prime-time cable program was the Monday edition of the Fox News Channel political talk show, “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” which averaged 3.081 million viewers, 39th overall.
Fox News Channel was the most-watched cable network in prime time for the sixth consecutive week and 14th time in 15 weeks, averaging 2.104 million viewers. MSNBC was second, averaging 1.452 million viewers, and HGTV third, averaging 1.232 million.
The top 20 cable programs consisted of 12 Fox News Channel programs, five broadcasts of the MSNBC news and opinion program “The Rachel Maddow Show,” and one program each on the Hallmark Channel, HGTV and History.
For the second consecutive week, the most-watched Spanish-language prime-time program was the Monday episode of the Univision telenovela “Te acuerdas de mí,” which averaged 1.548 million viewers to finish 68th among broadcast programs. Its overall rank was not available.
Univision was the most-watched Spanish-language network for the 75th consecutive week and 77th time in 78 weeks, averaging 1.27 million viewers. Telemundo was second, averaging 960,000 viewers, followed by UniMas (590,000), Estrella TV (120,000) and Azteca America (40,000).
ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” was the most-watched network nightly newscast for the 75th consecutive week, the 126th time in 127 weeks and the 178th time in 180 weeks, averaging 7.945 million viewers.
“NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” was second, averaging 6.458 million viewers, followed by the “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell,” which averaged 4.858 million viewers.
The week’s 10 most-watched prime-time programs were CBS’ “NCIS,” “FBI,” “60 Minutes” and “The Equalizer”; NBC’s “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago Med”; CBS’ “Young Sheldon”; Fox’s “9-1-1”; CBS’ “Blue Bloods”; and ABC’s “American Idol.”