The final numbers are in for the 2020-21 broadcast-TV season, and this year was, as always, a touchdown for football fare.
NBC’s Sunday Night Football and Fox’s Thursday Night Football placed No. 1 and No. 2 for the season, with average ratings of 4.7 and 3.9 in the coveted 18-49 demographic (including Live+7 DVR playback data).
Fox’s The Masked Singer (with a 2.0 rating), NBC’s This Is Us (2.0) and ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy (1.9) rounded out broadcast’s Top 5.
IN THE 18-49 DEMO, among dramas, This Is Us and Grey’s were trailed by CBS freshman The Equalizer and Fox’s 9-1-1 (both which averaged a 1.7). On the sitcom side, with Modern Family now out of the mix, CBS’ Young Sheldon claimed the throne with a 1.2. It was followed by ABC’s The Conners (1.1) and six shows (including the cancelled Mom and American Housewife) that tied with a 0.9.
Of the Top 20 non-sports entertainment programs, NBC boasted six, followed by ABC and CBS (which six each, counting Big Brother‘s many nights as one) and Fox’s four.
IN TOTAL VIEWERS, CBS’ NCIS (averaging 12.6 million) repeated as the season’s most watched drama and was followed closely by The Equalizer (12. 1 mil), while the network’s Young Sheldon (with 9.5 million viewers) repeated as the most watched comedy. All told, CBS delivered nine of the Top 20 most watched entertainment programs, follows by NBC (six), Fox (three) and ABC (two).
Listed below are my hand-curated rankings for the broadcast networks’ assorted offerings; last season’s can be found here. Hit Comments to share what surprises, delights or depresses you.
Want scoop on any of these shows? Email InsideLine@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.
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TOP RETURNING COMEDY | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS 1. Young Sheldon, CBS (1.2 rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
2. The Conners, ABC (1.1)
3 . American Housewife, ABC (0.9; cancelled)
3 (tie). Mom, CBS (0.9, cancelled)
3 (tie). The Goldbergs, ABC (0.9)
3 (tie). Family Guy, Fox (0.9)In Total Viewers
Young Sheldon (9.5 million) -
TOP NEW COMEDY | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox 1. Call Me Kat, Fox (0.9, rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
1 (tie). Young Rock, NBC (0.9)
2. B Positive, CBS (0.8)
2 (tie). Mr. Mayor, NBC (0.8)
3. Home Economics, ABC (0.7)
3 (tie). United States of Al, CBS (0.7)In Total Viewers
United States of Al (5.9 million) -
TOP RETURNING DRAMA | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: Courtesy of NBC 1. This Is Us, NBC (2.0 rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
2. Grey’s Anatomy, ABC (1.9)
3. 9-1-1, Fox (1.7)
4. Chicago P.D., NBC (1.6)
5. 9-1-1: Lone Star, Fox (1.5)
5 (tie). Chicago Fire, NBC (1.5)In Total Viewers
NCIS, CBS (12.6 million) -
TOP NEW DRAMA | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS 1. The Equalizer, CBS (1.7, rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
2. Law & Order: Organized Crime, NBC (1.5)
3. Big Sky, ABC (1.1)
4. Clarice, CBS (0.8, fate TBD)
5. Transplant, NBC (0.7)
5 (tie). Rebel, ABC (0.7; cancelled)
5 (tie). Debris, NBC (0.7; cancelled)In Total Viewers
The Equalizer (12.1 million) -
TOP UNSCRIPTED SHOW | 18-49 DEMO
Image Credit: Courtesy of Fox 1. The Masked Singer, Fox (2.0, rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
2. The Bachelorette, ABC (1.8)
2 (tie). The Bachelor, ABC (1.8)
3. Big Brother (Sundays, Wednesdays, Thursdays), CBS (1.4)
4. I Can See Your Voice, Fox (1.3)In Total Viewers
The Voice (Mondays), NBC (8.4 million) -
TOP-RATED CANCELLED SHOWS | 18-49
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS 1. Mom, CBS (0.9, rating, including any available Live+7 DVR playback)
1 (tie). American Housewife, ABC (0.9)
2. NCIS: New Orleans, CBS (0.8)
2 (tie). Last Man Standing, Fox (0.8).
2 (tie). Prodigal Son, Fox (0.8)In Total Viewers
NCIS: New Orleans (7.2 million) -
TOP 10 OVERALL BY DEMO
Image Credit: COURTESY OF NBC 1. Sunday Night Football, NBC (4.7, rating, -20% year over year)
2. Thursday Night Football, Fox (3.9, -13%)
3. The Masked Singer, Fox (2.0, -37%)
3 (tie). This Is Us (2.0, -31%)
4. Grey’s Anatomy, ABC (1.9, -17%)
5. The Bachelorette, ABC (1.8, N/A)
5 (tie) The Bachelor, ABC (1.8, -25%)
6. The Equalizer, CBS (1.7, new)
6 (tie). 9-1-1, Fox (1.7, -26%)
7. Chicago P.D., NBC (1.6, -20%)DROPPED OUT OF LAST YEAR’S TOP 10
Modern Family (ended), Survivor -
TOP 10 OVERALL BY TOTAL VIEWERS
Image Credit: Courtesy of CBS 1. Sunday Night Football, NBC (16.5 million, -18% year over year)
2. Thursday Night Football, Fox (13.4 million, -11%)
3. NCIS, CBS (12.6 million, -17%)
4. The Equalizer, CBS (12.1 million, new)
5. FBI, CBS (11 million, -13%)
6. 60 Minutes (10.7 million, +2%)
7. Chicago Fire, NBC (10.2 million, -13%)
8. Blue Bloods, CBS (10.2 million, -15%)
9. Chicago Med, NBC (9.7 million, -13%)
9 (tie) Chicago P.D., NBC (9.7 million, -13%)DROPPED OUT OF LAST YEAR’S TOP 10
This Is Us, Young SheldonWant scoop on any of the above shows? Email InsideLine@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.
