“NCIS” joined “FBI” as the only scripted programs to top the ratings in the 33-week-old 2021-22 prime-time television season, while “60 Minutes” was last week’s other prime-time program to average more than 7 million viewers, according to live-plus-same-day figures released by Nielsen Tuesday.
CBS had each of the four most-watched prime-time programs between May 2 and Sunday, topped by “NCIS,” which averaged 7.269 million viewers. “FBI” finished first the week of April 11-17.
“60 Minutes” was second last week, averaging 7.111 million viewers. “The Equalizer” averaged 6.456 million viewers following “60 Minutes.” The 12th season finale of the police drama “Blue Bloods” was fourth, averaging 6.227 million viewers, the most among programs beginning at 10 p.m.
ABC’s coverage of the Golden State Warriors’ 142-112 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday in Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series was fifth, averaging 6.095 million viewers, the most among prime-time sporting events.
It was the second time in the 11 weeks “American Idol” has aired this season that a program other than an episode of “American Idol” has been ABC’s most-watched program of the week. The other exception was the week ABC aired the Oscars.
The hourlong Monday “American Idol” episode was sixth for the week, averaging 5.821 million while the two-hour Sunday episode was eighth, averaging 5.516 million.
CBS had seven of the week’s top 10 programs to finish first for the 11th time in the 11 weeks following the conclusion of NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics, and the 17th time in the season, averaging 4.19 million viewers.
ABC was second for the 10th time in 11 weeks, averaging 3.74 million viewers. NBC was third among the broadcast networks for the 10th time in 11 weeks, averaging 2.77 million viewers and also trailed the most-watched cable network, TNT, which averaged 2.845 million, thanks to its coverage of the NBA playoffs.
With NBC airing reruns of its three “Chicago” series for the second consecutive week, its most-watched program was “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” 16th for the week, averaging 4.903 million viewers.
CBS, ABC and NBC all aired 22 hours of prime-time programming.
Fox averaged 2.08 million viewers for its 15 hours, 13 minutes of prime-time programming, topped by the procedural drama “9-1-1,” 14th for the week averaging 5.104 million viewers. “9-1-1” has been Fox’s most-watched program all six times an original episode has aired since March 21.
The CW averaged 400,000 viewers for its 14 hours of programming. The superhero drama “Superman & Lois,” was The CW’s most-watched program for the seventh time among its 11 original episodes this season, averaging 730,000 viewers, 148th among broadcast programs. Its overall rank was not available.
The 20 most-watched prime-time programs consisted of 11 programs that aired on CBS — nine scripted series episodes, “60 Minutes” and the alternative series “Survivor”; three NBA playoff games — two on TNT and one on ABC; three ABC alternative programs — two “American Idol” episodes and “America’s Funniest Home Videos”; NBC’s “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “This Is Us”; and Fox’s “9-1-1.”
The most-watched cable program was TNT’s coverage of Memphis’ 106-101 victory over Golden State in Game 2 of their series last Tuesday which averaged 5.322 million viewers, 10th for the week.
NBA playoff coverage made TNT the most-watched cable network for the second time in three weeks, averaging 2.845 million viewers. Fox News Channel dropped one spot to second, averaging 2.250 million viewers.
ESPN was third for the fourth consecutive week, averaging 1.383 million, the other cable network to average more than 1 million viewers for its prime-time programming.
The cable top 20 consisted of 10 Fox News Channel political talk shows — five broadcasts of “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” four of “Hannity” and one of “The Ingraham Angle”; nine NBA playoff games — seven on TNT and two on ESPN; and History’s long-running chronicle of a search for treasure on a Canadian island, “The Curse of Oak Island.”
An episode of the Univision telenovela “Madre” was the most-watched Spanish-language program for the seventh time in 10 weeks, with the Thursday episode averaging 1.905 million viewers, 63rd among broadcast programs. Its overall rank was not available.
Univision was the most-watched Spanish-language network for the 127th consecutive week and 129th time in 130 weeks, averaging 1.39 million viewers. Telemundo was second, averaging 900,000 viewers, followed by UniMas (520,000), Estrella TV (120,000) and Azteca America (40,000).
ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” was the most-watched nightly newscast for the 126th time in 127 weeks and 178th time in 180 weeks, averaging 7.846 million viewers. “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” was second, averaging 6.461 million.
The “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell” was third, averaging 4.621 million.
The week’s 10 most-watched prime-time programs were CBS’ “NCIS,” “60 Minutes,” “The Equalizer” and “Blue Bloods”; ABC’s coverage of Game 3 of the NBA Western Conference semifinal series between Golden State and Memphis; the Monday edition of ABC’s “American Idol”; CBS’ “Survivor”; the Sunday edition of ABC’s “American Idol’; CBS’ “The Neighborhood” and “Bob Hearts Abishola.”