CBS had each of last week’s four most-watched programs and seven of the top eight to finish first in the prime-time ratings race for the 10th consecutive week, the longest streak of the season by any network, according to live-plus-same-day figures released by Nielsen Tuesday.
“The Big Bang Theory” was the most-watched program for the third consecutive week, averaging 15.512 million viewers for its season finale, its largest audience since Jan. 11.
The “NCIS” farewell episode for Pauley Perrette was second for the week, averaging 15.086 million viewers, its most since Feb. 21.
“Roseanne” was the only non-CBS program to crack the top eight, averaging 10.295 million viewers opposite the first half-hour of “NCIS” to finish fifth for the week.
Viewership for “Roseanne” dropped 1.3 percent from its 10.428-million average the previous week.
CBS averaged 7.08 million viewers between May 7 and Sunday for its 17th victory in the 33-week-old season. NBC edged ABC, 4.46 million-4.44 million, to finish second.
Fox finished fourth among the major broadcast networks for the 16th consecutive week, averaging 2.62 million viewers for its 15 hours of prime-time programming. Its most-watched program was the hip-hop drama “Empire” which finished 33rd overall, averaging 5.026 million viewers.
CBS, ABC and NBC each broadcast 22 hours of programming for ratings purposes.
NBA playoff coverage made TNT the most-watched cable network for the fourth consecutive week, averaging 2.742 million viewers.
Each of the week’s four most-watched cable programs were NBA playoff games on TNT, topped by the Boston Celtics’ 114-112 Eastern Conference semifinal series-clinching victory over the Philadelphia 76ers last Wednesday, which averaged 6.018 million viewers, 22nd overall.
With the news talk show “Hannity” drawing cable’s four largest audiences outside of NBA playoff games, Fox News Channel was second, averaging 2.429 million viewers. MSNBC was third, averaging 1.622 million.
For the fourth consecutive week, TNT finished first among all networks among viewers ages 18-49, averaging 1.244 million viewers in the group coveted by advertisers.
CBS was second, averaging 1.2 million viewers, followed by ABC (1.16 million), NBC (1.11 million) and Fox (950,000).
The week’s most-watched Spanish-language prime-time program was Univision’s coverage of Sunday’s Club America-Santos Laguna Liga MX semifinal which averaged 2.167 million viewer, 99th overall.
By comparison, NBC’s coverage of Saturday’s Stanley Cup playoffs game between the Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets averaged 2.344 million viewers, 94th for the week.
Univision was the most-watched Spanish-language network for the 27th consecutive week, averaging 1.38 million viewers.
Telemundo averaged 1.11 million viewers to finish second for the 27th consecutive week after four consecutive first-place finishes. UniMas was third, averaging 680,000 viewers, followed by Estrella TV (280,000) and Azteca America (80,000).
ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” was the most-watched network nightly newscast for the 24th consecutive week and 35th of past 36, averaging 7.645 million viewers.
The “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” was second, averaging 7.351 million viewers.
The “CBS Evening News” averaged 5.590 million viewers. It has finished third each week since the week of Sept. 25-29, 2006.
The week’s 10 most-watched prime-time programs were CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory,” “NCIS,” “Young Sheldon” and “Bull”; ABC’s “Roseanne”; CBS’ “Mom,” “Blue Bloods” and “60 Minutes”; ABC’s “American Idol”; and the Monday edition of NBC’s “The Voice.”