CBS Extends Total Viewer Victory To 17 Years; ‘Tracker’ Ranks No. 1

In today’s fragmented content landscape where more people consider the streaming platforms their “go to” destinations, the piece of the audience pie has deteriorated for the five broadcast networks. But one network, CBS, continues to stand well above the rest in primetime.

While certainly not the youngest skewing platform, CBS will conclude this traditional (September to May) broadcast season as the most-watched network for the 17th consecutive year. Comparably, this breaks broadcast television’s longest winning streak on record, also previously held by CBS, which was from 1955 to 1970.

Through April 20 (with DVR usage through April 14, and excluding sports, specials and one-time-only airings), the seven most-watched programs in broadcast primetime air on CBS. At 10.84 million viewers, according to Nielsen, action-drama Tracker, starring Justin Hartley, holds the No. 1 spot. Tops in the freshman class, and ranked No. 2 overall, is Matlock with Oscar winner Kathy Bates. Also cracking the top 10 among the season one Eye net entries is sitcom Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage at No. 5 (and an average 7.98 million viewers). Detective drama Watson, another newbie, is solid at No. 15 overall.

CBS holds 8 of the top 10 most-watched shows, and 13 of the top 20.

Outside of CBS, the remaining two top 10 spots fall in NBC’s corner care of the Dick Wolf dramas Chicago Fire and Chicago Med. Chicago PD, meanwhile, is ranked at No. 13, while veteran singing competition The Voice is No. 18.

While ABC is on the map with only three series, freshman High Potential lives up to its title at No. 12. Season three of drama Will Trent has also flexed some muscle at No. 14, and 9-1-1 (which was originally housed on Fox) made the cut at No. 19. Naturally, this could bode well for ABC’s upcoming spinoff 9-1-1: Nashville next season.

Just missing the top 20 were two additional CBS entries: freshman NCIS: Origins (No. 21) and veteran Survivor (No. 22).

Fun factoid: In 1955, when CBS began its total viewer winning streak, the most watched television series in primetime was The $64,000 Question. At the time, the game show was attracting over 40 million viewers. No. 2 overall was the beloved I Love Lucy.

Here are the top 20 most-watched primetime broadcast TV shows this season to-date.