“Game of Thrones” tied its season high in adults 18-49 on May 22, and its 4.0 rating was good enough to lead the rankings for the week.
NBA playoff games on TNT and ESPN occupied the next six spots in the 18-49 rankings, led by the 3.7 for the opening game of the Western Conference finals (Oklahoma City-Golden State). That game also finished No. 1 in viewers for the week of May 16-22 with 8.71 million.
Top 25 cable shows (including ties) in adults 18-49 for May 16-22, 2016
| Rank | Show | Net | Day | Time | 18-49 Rating | 18-49 Viewers (000s) |
| 1 | GAME OF THRONES | HBOM | 5/22/2016 | 9:02 PM | 4.0 | 5023 |
| 2 | NBA PLAYOFFS – THUNDER/WARRIORS GM 1 | TNT | 5/16/2016 | 9:00 PM | 3.7 | 4629 |
| 3 | NBA PLAYOFFS – THUNDER/WARRIORS GM 2 | TNT | 5/18/2016 | 9:02 PM | 3.1 | 3950 |
| 3t | NBA PLAYOFFS – WARRIORS/THUNDER GM 3 | TNT | 5/22/2016 | 8:00 PM | 3.1 | 3941 |
| 5 | NBA PLAYOFFS – RAPTORS/CAVALIERS GM 1 | ESPN | 5/17/2016 | 8:29 PM | 2.3 | 2911 |
| 6 | NBA PLAYOFFS – RAPTORS/CAVALIERS GM 2 | ESPN | 5/19/2016 | 8:29 PM | 2.2 | 2739 |
| 7 | NBA PLAYOFFS – CAVALIERS/RAPTORS GM 3 | ESPN | 5/21/2016 | 8:29 PM | 2.1 | 2617 |
| 8 | INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | 5/16/2016 | 11:43 PM | 1.9 | 2427 |
| 8t | FEAR THE WALKING DEAD | AMC | 5/22/2016 | 9:00 PM | 1.9 | 2386 |
| 10 | LOVE & HIP HOP ATLANTA | VH1 | 5/16/2016 | 8:00 PM | 1.5 | 1912 |
| 10t | INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | 5/18/2016 | 11:38 PM | 1.5 | 1883 |
| 12 | INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | 5/22/2016 | 10:41 PM | 1.4 | 1797 |
| 13 | NBA DRAFT LOTTERY | ESPN | 5/17/2016 | 7:59 PM | 1.2 | 1518 |
| 13t | SPORTSCENTER | ESPN | 5/19/2016 | 11:07 PM | 1.2 | 1499 |
| 15 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | 5/16/2016 | 9:00 PM | 1.1 | 1432 |
| 15t | SPORTSCENTER | ESPN | 5/17/2016 | 11:12 PM | 1.1 | 1429 |
| 15t | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | 5/16/2016 | 8:00 PM | 1.1 | 1411 |
| 15t | BLACK INK CREW | VH1 | 5/16/2016 | 9:00 PM | 1.1 | 1371 |
| 19 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | 5/16/2016 | 10:00 PM | 1.0 | 1295 |
| 19t | SPORTSCENTER | ESPN | 5/21/2016 | 10:59 PM | 1.0 | 1265 |
| 19t | STREET OUTLAWS | DISC | 5/16/2016 | 9:00 PM | 1.0 | 1251 |
| 19t | FAMILY GUY | ADSM | 5/18/2016 | 11:30 PM | 1.0 | 1219 |
| 23 | SILICON VALLEY | HBOM | 5/22/2016 | 10:02 PM | 0.9 | 1195 |
| 23t | FAMILY GUY | ADSM | 5/18/2016 | 11:00 PM | 0.9 | 1172 |
| 23t | FAMILY GUY | ADSM | 5/22/2016 | 10:30 PM | 0.9 | 1147 |
| 23t | PREACHER – P | AMC | 5/22/2016 | 10:00 PM | 0.9 | 1144 |
| 23t | AMERICAN DAD | ADSM | 5/18/2016 | 10:30 PM | 0.9 | 1134 |
| 23t | FAMILY GUY | ADSM | 5/17/2016 | 11:00 PM | 0.9 | 1130 |
| 23t | FAMILY GUY | ADSM | 5/19/2016 | 11:00 PM | 0.9 | 1121 |
| 23t | FAMILY GUY | ADSM | 5/19/2016 | 11:30 PM | 0.9 | 1114 |
| 23t | FAMILY GUY | ADSM | 5/16/2016 | 11:30 PM | 0.9 | 1105 |
| 23t | FAMILY GUY | ADSM | 5/16/2016 | 11:00 PM | 0.9 | 1096 |
| 23t | THE BIG BANG THEORY | TBSC | 5/22/2016 | 10:00 PM | 0.9 | 1089 |
| 23t | THE BIG BANG THEORY | TBSC | 5/22/2016 | 10:30 PM | 0.9 | 1082 |
| 23t | FAMILY GUY | ADSM | 5/17/2016 | 11:30 PM | 0.9 | 1081 |
Top 25 cable series in viewers for May 16-22, 2016
| Rank | Show | Net | Day | Time | Viewers (000s) |
| 1 | NBA PLAYOFFS – THUNDER/WARRIORS GM 1 | TNT | 5/16/2016 | 9:00 PM | 8706 |
| 2 | NBA PLAYOFFS – WARRIORS/THUNDER GM 3 | TNT | 5/22/2016 | 8:00 PM | 8018 |
| 3 | GAME OF THRONES | HBOM | 5/22/2016 | 9:02 PM | 7890 |
| 4 | NBA PLAYOFFS – THUNDER/WARRIORS GM 2 | TNT | 5/18/2016 | 9:02 PM | 7573 |
| 5 | NBA PLAYOFFS – RAPTORS/CAVALIERS GM 2 | ESPN | 5/19/2016 | 8:29 PM | 5492 |
| 6 | NBA PLAYOFFS – RAPTORS/CAVALIERS GM 1 | ESPN | 5/17/2016 | 8:29 PM | 5405 |
| 7 | NBA PLAYOFFS – CAVALIERS/RAPTORS GM 3 | ESPN | 5/21/2016 | 8:29 PM | 5393 |
| 8 | FEAR THE WALKING DEAD | AMC | 5/22/2016 | 9:00 PM | 4388 |
| 9 | INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | 5/16/2016 | 11:43 PM | 4061 |
| 10 | INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | 5/22/2016 | 10:41 PM | 3417 |
| 11 | INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | 5/18/2016 | 11:38 PM | 3408 |
| 12 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | 5/16/2016 | 8:00 PM | 3376 |
| 13 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | 5/16/2016 | 9:00 PM | 3302 |
| 14 | NASCAR SPRINT CUP/ALL-STAR RACE | FS1 | 5/21/2016 | 9:22 PM | 3291 |
| 15 | THE O’REILLY FACTOR | FOXNC | 5/18/2016 | 8:00 PM | 3132 |
| 16 | THE O’REILLY FACTOR | FOXNC | 5/16/2016 | 8:00 PM | 2975 |
| 17 | THE O’REILLY FACTOR | FOXNC | 5/19/2016 | 8:00 PM | 2930 |
| 18 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | 5/16/2016 | 10:00 PM | 2894 |
| 19 | LOVE & HIP HOP ATLANTA | VH1 | 5/16/2016 | 8:00 PM | 2853 |
| 20 | NBA DRAFT LOTTERY | ESPN | 5/17/2016 | 7:59 PM | 2748 |
| 21 | ALASKAN BUSH PEOPLE | DISC | 5/20/2016 | 9:00 PM | 2707 |
| 22 | SPORTSCENTER | ESPN | 5/19/2016 | 11:07 PM | 2578 |
| 23 | THE KELLY FILE | FOXNC | 5/18/2016 | 9:00 PM | 2530 |
| 24 | SPORTSCENTER | ESPN | 5/17/2016 | 11:12 PM | 2527 |
| 25 | THE KELLY FILE | FOXNC | 5/16/2016 | 9:00 PM | 2522 |
All ratings are live + same-day. Source: The Nielsen Company.
