CBS can officially claim that it has been No. 1 in daytime for 30 years — so, longer than most of you millennials who scoff at the programming have been alive.
And the network didn’t just limp into the three-decade-long milestone, it did so with style: CBS has punctuated the achievement with its largest average audience (4.13 million total viewers) since the 2006-07 broadcast season.
Perhaps that’s why Los Angeles has declared Tuesday to be “CBS Daytime Day.” Or, really, it’s because there are about 1,000 crew and talent working across the daypart’s on-air offerings, something the city appreciates.
Here are some of the highlights from the landmark 30th year:
- “The Talk” averaged 2.70 million viewers, up 4 percent over last year for the most-watched season in its six-year history.
- “Let’s Make a Deal 1” (its first half hour) scored a record audience (3.29 million viewers, up 1 percent) for any season, while “Let’s Make a Deal 2” (second half hour) matched its record audience (3.55 million) from last season.
- “The Price Is Right 1” (its first half-hour) averaged 4.97 million viewers and was up 3 percent from last year to make this its most-watched season since 2003-04. “The Price Is Right 2” (second half hour) was daytime’s most-watched program, averaging 5.70 million — that’s up 2 percent from a year ago, to its most-watched level since 2006-07.
- “The Young and the Restless” remains daytime’s most watched drama (5.20 million viewers) and the highest-rated one for women 25-54 (1.8) and women 18-49 (1.5).
- “The Bold and the Beautiful” ranks second among daytime dramas in viewers (3.96 million) and women 25-54 (1.2).
“This winning streak is an incredible source of pride for all of us at CBS,” said Angelica McDaniel, executive vice president of daytime programs at CBS Entertainment. “It speaks to three decades of great storytelling from the best creative artists in front of and behind the camera, and the amazing support from a very passionate and loyal fan base.”