As another broadcast TV season slips into the rear view mirror, NBC Sunday Night Football finishes on top of the press release writer friendly but financially irrelevant total viewership rankings. The contest for second was a bit closer, as the Wednesday American Idol edged NCIS by 320,000 average viewers. Dancing with the Stars rounded out the top 6.
If you're looking for the 2011-12 season adults 18-49 ratings you can find them here.
2011-12 Season Total Viewership (33 weeks of Live+7 Day and 2.5 weeks of Live+Same Day ratings)
| Rank | Net | Program | Telecasts | Total Viewership (million) |
| 1 | NBC | NBC Sunday Night Football | 15 | 20.741 |
| 2 | FOX | American Idol-WEDNESDAY | 19 | 19.811 |
| 3 | CBS | NCIS | 34 | 19.491 |
| 4 | FOX | American Idol-THURSDAY | 18 | 18.332 |
| 5 | ABC | Dancing with the Stars | 20 | 18.238 |
| 6 | ABC | DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | 19 | 16.083 |
| 7 | CBS | NCIS: LOS ANGELES | 32 | 16.011 |
| 8 | CBS | Big Bang Theory, THE | 32 | 15.820 |
| 9 | NBC | VOICE | 15 | 15.767 |
| 10 | NBC | SUNDAY NIGHT NFL PRE-KICK | 15 | 15.744 |
| 11 | CBS | Two and a Half Men | 34 | 14.639 |
| 12 | CBS | Mentalist, THE | 31 | 14.570 |
| 13 | CBS | Person Of Interest | 31 | 14.337 |
| 14 | FOX | OT, THE | 7 | 13.344 |
| 15 | CBS | Criminal Minds | 34 | 13.196 |
| 16 | CBS | 60 Minutes | 29 | 13.029 |
| 17 | ABC | Modern Family | 34 | 12.930 |
| 18 | CBS | SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC | 12 | 12.770 |
| 19 | FOX | X-FACTOR-WED | 10 | 12.665 |
| 20 | FOX | X-FACTOR-THU | 11 | 12.571 |
| 21 | CBS | CSI | 31 | 12.490 |
| 22 | ABC | CASTLE | 27 | 12.181 |
| 22 | CBS | Blue Bloods | 30 | 12.159 |
| 24 | CBS | UNFORGETTABLE | 31 | 12.106 |
| 25 | CBS | ROB | 8 | 12.012 |
| 26 | CBS | Hawaii Five-0 | 33 | 11.834 |
| 26 | CBS | Good Wife, THE | 23 | 11.830 |
| 28 | ABC | Once Upon A Time | 24 | 11.714 |
| 29 | CBS | SURVIVOR: ONE WORLD | 13 | 11.636 |
| 30 | NBC | FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 3 | 15 | 11.529 |
| 31 | CBS | MIKE & Molly | 33 | 11.507 |
| 32 | CBS | 2 Broke Girls | 33 | 11.285 |
| 33 | CBS | Amazing Race 19 | 12 | 11.129 |
| 34 | ABC | Grey'S ANATOMY | 29 | 10.923 |
| 34 | NBC | VOICE:RESULTS SHOW | 6 | 10.915 |
| 36 | CBS | CSI: MIAMI | 21 | 10.840 |
| 37 | ABC | Desperate Housewives | 22 | 10.605 |
| 38 | CBS | CSI: NY | 25 | 10.343 |
| 39 | CBS | Amazing Race 20 | 10 | 10.299 |
| 40 | NBC | AMERICA'S GOT TALENT-MON | 2 | 10.205 |
| 40 | NBC | AMERICA'S GOT TALENT-TUE | 2 | 10.201 |
| 42 | CBS | Rules of Engagement | 19 | 10.103 |
| 43 | FOX | Terra Nova | 11 | 10.083 |
| 44 | ABC | Body Of Proof | 26 | 9.898 |
| 45 | CBS | How I Met Your Mother | 32 | 9.673 |
| 46 | FOX | Alcatraz | 10 | 9.560 |
| 47 | CBS | Undercover Boss | 14 | 9.347 |
| 48 | FOX | BONES | 15 | 9.258 |
| 49 | FOX | TOUCH | 9 | 9.179 |
| 50 | ABC | Last Man Standing | 29 | 9.129 |
| 51 | NBC | SMASH | 15 | 8.944 |
| 52 | NBC | HARRY'S LAW | 25 | 8.916 |
| 53 | ABC | BACHELOR, THE | 10 | 8.854 |
| 54 | ABC | MISSING | 10 | 8.818 |
| 55 | CBS | NYC 22 | 4 | 8.771 |
| 56 | ABC | REVENGE | 27 | 8.720 |
| 56 | FOX | GLEE | 25 | 8.711 |
| 58 | FOX | HOUSE | 25 | 8.685 |
| 59 | CBS | How To Be A Gentleman | 2 | 8.671 |
| 60 | CBS | GIFTED MAN, A | 22 | 8.633 |
| 61 | FOX | New Girl | 28 | 8.217 |
| 62 | ABC | Scandal | 7 | 8.211 |
| 63 | ABC | Private Practice | 24 | 8.088 |
| 63 | ABC | MIDDLE, THE | 34 | 8.082 |
| 65 | ABC | BACHELORETTE, THE | 2 | 7.751 |
| 66 | ABC | GCB | 8 | 7.616 |
| 67 | NBC | Law And Order:SVU | 31 | 7.587 |
| 68 | FOX | HELL'S KITCHEN-MON 9P | 1 | 7.423 |
| 69 | FOX | HELL'S KITCHEN-MON | 1 | 7.336 |
| 70 | FOX | Family Guy | 23 | 7.304 |
| 71 | ABC | Suburgatory | 32 | 7.246 |
| 72 | NBC | Biggest Loser 13 | 18 | 7.175 |
| 73 | NBC | Apprentice 12 | 14 | 7.149 |
| 73 | ABC | PAN AM | 14 | 7.142 |
| 75 | ABC | Man Up! | 8 | 6.960 |
| 75 | FOX | Simpsons | 23 | 6.950 |
| 75 | FOX | FINDER | 13 | 6.945 |
| 75 | ABC | Last Man Standing-8:30PM | 4 | 6.945 |
| 79 | NBC | Biggest Loser 12 | 13 | 6.930 |
| 79 | ABC | CHARLIE'S Angels | 7 | 6.919 |
| 79 | NBC | Fear Factor | 5 | 6.911 |
| 82 | ABC | RIVER, THE | 7 | 6.718 |
| 83 | ABC | Happy Endings | 25 | 6.647 |
| 84 | CBS | 60 Minutes PRESENTS | 3 | 6.578 |
| 84 | NBC | PARENTHOOD | 19 | 6.573 |
| 86 | ABC | AMER FUNN HOME VIDEOS | 27 | 6.537 |
| 87 | NBC | OFFICE | 31 | 6.506 |
| 88 | ABC | SAT NIGHT FOOTBALL | 10 | 6.399 |
| 89 | ABC | DON'T Trust The B-APT 23 | 7 | 6.373 |
| 89 | NBC | Grimm | 26 | 6.359 |
| 91 | NBC | Prime Suspect | 12 | 6.293 |
| 91 | NBC | OFF THEIR ROCKRS | 8 | 6.292 |
| 93 | ABC | Celebrity Wife Swap | 4 | 6.270 |
| 94 | NBC | WHO'S Still Standing | 5 | 6.230 |
| 95 | NBC | AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR | 1 | 6.204 |
| 96 | NBC | FOOTBALL NT AMERICA PT 2 | 15 | 6.109 |
| 97 | ABC | WIPEOUT-THURS | 10 | 6.068 |
| 98 | ABC | Shark Tank | 18 | 6.033 |
| 99 | FOX | Mobbed | 4 | 5.971 |
| 100 | ABC | Work It | 2 | 5.871 |
| 101 | ABC | Extreme Makeover:HOME ED. | 14 | 5.832 |
| 101 | CBS | 48 Hours Mystery | 29 | 5.820 |
| 103 | ABC | Extreme Makeover:HM ED-9P | 9 | 5.765 |
| 103 | FOX | Napoleon Dynamite | 5 | 5.751 |
| 105 | FOX | NFL ON FOX BONUS | 1 | 5.715 |
| 106 | FOX | Raising Hope | 25 | 5.644 |
| 107 | ABC | 20/20-FRI | 32 | 5.630 |
| 107 | NBC | Who Do You Think You Are | 15 | 5.612 |
| 109 | NBC | Dateline FRI | 33 | 5.576 |
| 110 | FOX | American Dad | 18 | 5.468 |
| 111 | FOX | CLEVELAND-SUN 8:30P | 2 | 5.410 |
| 112 | NBC | OFF THEIR ROCKRS 830 | 4 | 5.310 |
| 112 | NBC | Up All Night | 27 | 5.293 |
| 114 | NBC | Dateline SUN-7PM | 13 | 5.262 |
| 114 | NBC | PLAYBOY CLUB | 3 | 5.261 |
| 114 | FOX | I HATE MY TEENAGE DGHTR | 7 | 5.261 |
| 117 | NBC | Dateline CLASSIC | 2 | 5.243 |
| 117 | NBC | AMERICA'S GOT TLNT-TU 8P | 1 | 5.239 |
| 119 | NBC | SING OFF | 12 | 5.210 |
| 120 | ABC | Cougar Town | 12 | 5.185 |
| 121 | ABC | 20/20-FRIDAY | 1 | 5.150 |
| 122 | NBC | Whitney | 27 | 5.111 |
| 123 | ABC | PRIMETIME:WHAT WOULD U DO | 17 | 4.998 |
| 124 | NBC | Fashion Star | 10 | 4.950 |
| 125 | NBC | AWAKE | 12 | 4.807 |
| 125 | ABC | You Deserve It | 5 | 4.805 |
| 127 | CBS | CRIMETIME SATURDAY | 23 | 4.745 |
| 128 | NBC | Dateline CLASSIC-FRI | 1 | 4.698 |
| 129 | ABC | MIDDLE-TUE, THE | 5 | 4.568 |
| 130 | NBC | 30 Rock | 19 | 4.554 |
| 130 | NBC | Are You There Chelsea | 12 | 4.541 |
| 132 | ABC | MISSING-WED | 3 | 4.492 |
| 132 | FOX | Allen Gregory | 7 | 4.483 |
| 134 | NBC | Parks and Recreation | 26 | 4.411 |
| 135 | ABC | MY EXTREME AFFLICTION | 4 | 4.387 |
| 135 | NBC | FIRM | 15 | 4.361 |
| 137 | FOX | Family Guy ENCORE | 4 | 4.277 |
| 138 | NBC | Prime Suspect-SAT | 5 | 4.268 |
| 138 | NBC | CHUCK | 12 | 4.247 |
| 140 | ABC | SAT NIGHT FTBL PRE-GAME | 10 | 4.227 |
| 140 | FOX | FRINGE | 26 | 4.221 |
| 142 | FOX | BOB'S BURGERS | 9 | 4.187 |
| 143 | FOX | COPS 2 | 13 | 4.107 |
| 144 | FOX | CLEVELAND | 21 | 4.034 |
| 144 | NBC | COMMUNITY | 24 | 4.029 |
| 146 | NBC | Free Agents | 3 | 3.958 |
| 147 | NBC | Rock Center-B. WILLIAMS | 27 | 3.954 |
| 148 | ABC | Suburgatory-TUE | 4 | 3.920 |
| 149 | FOX | Kitchen Nightmares | 23 | 3.878 |
| 150 | NBC | Law And Order:SVU-SAT | 22 | 3.863 |
| 150 | FOX | Napoleon Dynamite ENCORE | 1 | 3.846 |
| 152 | NBC | Up All Night-8:30P | 4 | 3.756 |
| 153 | FOX | COPS | 12 | 3.740 |
| 153 | FOX | Simpsons ENCORE | 4 | 3.729 |
| 155 | NBC | HARRY'S LAW-SAT | 11 | 3.708 |
| 156 | ABC | ABC SAT MOVIE OF THE WEEK | 9 | 3.457 |
| 156 | FOX | Breaking In | 5 | 3.449 |
| 158 | NBC | Best Friends Forever | 4 | 3.429 |
| 159 | NBC | LAW & ORDER:SVU-WED 9PM | 2 | 3.259 |
| 160 | ABC | WIPEOUT-SAT 8PM | 5 | 3.236 |
| 161 | CBS | COMEDYTIME SATURDAY 2 | 13 | 3.214 |
| 162 | CBS | COMEDYTIME SATURDAY 1 | 13 | 3.167 |
| 163 | ABC | Shark Tank-SAT 8PM | 4 | 3.068 |
| 164 | NBC | BENT 9P | 3 | 3.050 |
| 165 | FOX | American Dad ENCORE | 2 | 2.901 |
| 166 | CW | Vampire Diaries | 32 | 2.777 |
| 167 | FOX | CLEVELAND ENCORE | 2 | 2.692 |
| 168 | NBC | BENT 930 | 3 | 2.657 |
| 169 | FOX | FINDER-ENCORE | 2 | 2.599 |
| 170 | FOX | Simpsons-SUN 7P | 9 | 2.496 |
| 170 | NBC | FIRM-SAT | 1 | 2.494 |
| 172 | CW | AMERICA'S Top Model-11 | 12 | 2.421 |
| 173 | NBC | SMASH-SAT | 4 | 2.360 |
| 174 | FOX | Terra Nova-ENCORE | 8 | 2.242 |
| 175 | CW | SECRET CIRCLE | 28 | 2.056 |
| 176 | CW | SUPERNATURAL | 32 | 2.026 |
| 177 | FOX | CLEVELAND-SUN 7P | 3 | 1.953 |
| 178 | FOX | CLEVELAND-SAT 9:30P | 1 | 1.908 |
| 179 | FOX | Q'VIVA | 4 | 1.883 |
| 180 | CW | One Tree Hill | 13 | 1.855 |
| 181 | CW | RINGER | 25 | 1.818 |
| 182 | CW | Hart Of Dixie | 30 | 1.779 |
| 182 | CW | Nikita | 31 | 1.774 |
| 184 | FOX | BOB'S BURGER-SUN 7P | 8 | 1.746 |
| 184 | FOX | American Dad-SAT 9P | 1 | 1.732 |
| 186 | CW | 90210 | 28 | 1.548 |
| 186 | CW | AMERICA'S Top Model-BRIT | 12 | 1.522 |
| 188 | CW | Gossip Girl-MON | 25 | 1.518 |
| 189 | CW | H8R | 3 | 1.239 |
| 190 | CW | RINGER-ENC | 4 | 1.204 |
| 191 | CW | AMERICA'S TOP MODEL11-ENC | 5 | 1.119 |
| 192 | NBC | ESCAPE ROUTES | 6 | 1.108 |
| 193 | CW | AMERICA'S TOP MOD BRIT-EN | 8 | 0.865 |
| 194 | CW | REMODELED | 6 | 0.711 |
| 195 | CW | LA COMPLEX | 5 | 0.572 |
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Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2012 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
More proof on why total viewers doesn’t matter to networks or advertisers outside of the obvious Harry’s Law situation:
The two highest scripted shows on Fox in viewership were Terra Nova and Alcatraz. But other factors, be them ratings or cost, factored in more than viewers.
Still an interesting list for what it is though. Such as the fact that Fox and NBC don’t have a scripted shot until 43 and 51 respectively.
Terra Nova in top 50but gone anyway.
Terra Nova never topped 10_,000,000 viewers
Terra Nova never topped 10,000,000 viewers
Alcatrazalso top 50 but gone Thanks Fox
anyone else find it funny that the CW cancelled their highest rated scripted show?
oops correction 2nd highest rated show scripted
Oh wow, NCIS was practically inches away from topping American Idol as the #1 non-sports show in total viewership…wonder if it’ll hit #1 next year?
@Leondre
Terra Nova never topped 10,000,000 viewers
“2011-12 Season Total Viewership (33 weeks of Live+7 Day”
Seriously, who looks at the data in a table without reading the title first?
@kate
Terra Nova in top 50but gone anyway.
Alcatrazalso top 50 but gone Thanks Fox
Total viewership has no impact on a show’s renewal prospects. No, not even if its season average is in the top 50.
Only 3 scripted shows in the top 10 and they all come from CBS.(NCIS, NCIS:Lost Angeles and The Big Bang Theory) I was so hopping NCIS could pull it off and come into first place. It’s crazy to think that a show ranked #134 is returning.
Terra Nova and Alcatraz ranked highly because they had strong starts that tailed off significantly by their final episodes, especially in the case of Alcatraz.
@Kris: The Secret Circle is also another show that had a strongish fall, but a dire spring.
This list includes DVR within 7 days as well as repeats.
That’s why reality dominates
NCIS > Idol for new episodes
Pathetic numbers for NBC. The Thursday night comedies should have been cancelled. Nobody is watching them. CBS kicking butt as usual. Soon they will have to use the overall numbers when the 18-49 aren’t watching anything.
Harry’s Law is pulling in better viewership numbers than Smash. The finale of HL is this Sunday night, so I hope everyone watches Harry’s Law and gives NBC the final middle finger for cancelling one of their most watched shows.
Rob 12,012 million viewers canceled.Gossip girl:1,518 million viewers renewed for a new season.Something isn´t right with CW.I guess they should try picking shows other networks cancel:Like Cougar town canceled by ABC and picked up by TBS.
@Steve
Everyone 50+ will be watching for sure. LOL!
Fringe tops place #140!!! Wow, and renewed!
Sigh
@ Bob
The less 18-49 people who watch, the MORE 18-49 demo becomes important to the advertisers. You are mistaken about who Nielsen’s customers are. Nielsen puts out plenty enough information for networks to find one way or another to make their shows seem good. The advertisers, on the other hand, couldn’t care less about most of it. The networks already use the overall numbers, but they don’t matter when it comes to ad rates or renewals.
The more scarce the resource you are trying to reach, the more valuable it becomes. Simple supply and demand, that’s what drives the use of the 18-49 demo.
When the Premiere Dates of the returning Series will be revealed ?