Each season, the television networks introduce dozens of new TV shows and hope that each will be a big hit in the ratings. Unfortunately, most are cancelled after one season. How are the 2016-17 series doing? Which have the best ratings and which have the worst? How many will survive to see a second season? Stay tuned.
Here are the season average ratings of the new 2016-17 network TV shows — through the end of week 49 (Sunday, August 27, 2017).
New ABC TV shows (so far): American Housewife, Battle of the Network Stars, Big Fan, Boy Band, Conviction, Designated Survivor, Downward Dog, The Gong Show, Notorious, People Icons, Somewhere Between, Speechless, Steve Harvey’s Funderdome, Still Star-Crossed, The Toy Box, and When We Rise.
New CBS TV shows this season (so far): 48 Hours: NCIS, Beat Shazam, Bull, Candy Crush, The Case Of, Doubt, CBSN: On Assignment, The Great Indoors, Hunted, Kevin Can Wait, MacGyver, Man With A Plan, Midnight, Texas, Pure Genius, Ransom, Salvation, Superior Donuts, Time After Time, and Training Day.
New CW TV shows this season (so far): Frequency, Hooten & the Lady, No Tomorrow, Riverdale, and Terry Crews Saves Christmas.
New FOX TV shows this season (so far): 24: Legacy, APB, Beat Shazam, The Exorcist, The F Word, Kicking & Screaming, Lethal Weapon, Love Connection, Making History, The Mick, My Kitchen Rules, Pitch, Prison Break, Son of Zorn, Star, Superhuman, and You The Jury.
New NBC TV shows this season (so far): The Blacklist: Redemption, Chicago Justice, Emerald City, First Dates, The Good Place, Great News, Little Big Shots: Forever Young, Marlon, Midnight, Texas, Powerless, Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Summer Edition, Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly, Taken, This Is Us, Timeless, and World of Dance.
Note: If you’re not seeing the updated charts, please try reloading the page. You can also view them here.
The averages are based on the final national numbers (live plus same day viewing). The demos are typically reported with one decimal place but I’ve included two for more accurate ranking.
Keep in mind that the demo numbers are typically what’s most important to advertisers. Therefore, that’s how the networks measure success. Advertisers pay more for ad time on a show that has a higher demo rating. Because older viewers don’t count? No, it’s because younger viewers watch less traditional TV and are harder to reach.
What do you think? Are you surprised by any of the ratings? Which shows should be doing better?
