With the fall TV season well underway, broadcasters are beginning to get a sense of whether they have a hit on their hands with their new shows — and if fans will keep showing up for long-standing unscripted favorites as the Hollywood strikes has kept scripted fare off the schedule.
Several of this season’s launches benefitted from NFL game lead-ins, including overall ratings winner “60 minutes” (CBS), which scored a 1.73 rating in the key 18-49 broadcast demo during its Sept. 17 debut, according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day figures. This season’s runner-up for highest rating was Fox’s “Krapopolis,” which premiered as the most-watched animation series debut of the past decade with a 1.18 rating following an NFL doubleheader.
Other high-ranking premiere contenders include unscripted favorites like CBS’ “Survivor,” which scored a 0.84 rating, ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” which locked down a 0.64 demo rating, and NBC’s “The Voice,” which drew a 0.6 rating. Some newcomers also debuted to impressive figures, including Paramount Network hit “Yellowstone,” which secured a 0.67 rating during its linear CBS premiere, and ABC’s long-awaited spin-off “The Golden Bachelor,” which garnered a 0.62 rating.
Here is TheWrap’s breakdown the top-rated fall season or series premieres across broadcast television per network.
ABC Premiere Ratings
Winner: “Dancing with the Stars” – 0.64 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 26
Total viewers: 4.78 million
“The Golden Bachelor” – 0.62 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 28
Total viewers: 4.36 million
“Celebrity Jeopardy!” – 0.46 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 27
Total viewers: 3.59 million
“Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” – 0.4 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 27
Total viewers: 2.89 million
“Bachelor in Paradise” – 0.37 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 28
Total viewers: 2.08 million
“Shark Tank” – 0.37 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 29
Total viewers: 3.47 million
“America’s Funniest Home Videos” – 0.35 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 1
Total viewers: 3.3 million
“The $100,000 Pyramid” – 0.3 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 27
Total viewers: 2.35 million
“20/20” – 0.29 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 29
Total viewers: 3.08 million
NBC Premiere Ratings
Winner: “The Voice” – 0.6 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 25
Total viewers: 6.26 million
“Found” – 0.40 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 3
Total viewers: 3.76 million
“The Irrational” – 0.34 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 25
Total viewers: 3.81 million
“Magnum, P.I.” – 0.32 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 4
Total viewers: 3.57 million
“Quantum Leap” – 0.31 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 4
Total viewers: 2.90 million
“Dateline NBC” – 0.25 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 29
Total viewers: 2.45 million
“Transplant” – 0.19 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 12
Total viewers: 2.19 million
CBS Premiere Ratings
Winner: “60 Minutes” – 1.73 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 17
Total viewers: 11.8 million
“Survivor” – 0.84 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 27
Total viewers: 5.24 million
“Yellowstone” – 0.67 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 17
Total viewers: 6.83 million
“The Amazing Race” – 0.36 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 27
Total viewers: 2.70 million
“Buddy Games” – 0.3 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 14
Total viewers: 1.99 million
“Raid the Cage” – 0.25 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 13
Total viewers: 2.49 million
“Lotería Loca” – 0.2 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 2
Total viewers: 1.75 million
“FBI True” – 0.22 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 3
Total viewers: 2.45 million
Fox Premiere Ratings
Winner: “Krapopolis” – 1.18 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 24
Total viewers: 3.82 million
“The Simpsons” – 1.08 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 1
Total Viewers: 3.58 million
“The Masked Singer” – 0.54 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 27
Total viewers: 3.22 million
“Snake Oil” – 0.39 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 27
Total viewers: 1.79 million
“Bob’s Burgers” – 0.39 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 1
Total viewers: 1.23 million
“Kitchen Nightmares” – 0.35 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 25
Total viewers: 1.58 million
“Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test” – 0.33 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 25
Total viewers: 1.52 million
“Family Guy” – 0.31 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 1
Total viewers: 1.06 million
“Hell’s Kitchen” – 0.29 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 28
Total viewers: 1.77 million
“Lego Masters” – 0.24 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 28
Total viewers: 953,000
“Name That Tune” – 0.20 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 19
Total viewers: 1.06 million
The CW Premiere Ratings
Winner: “Inside the NFL” – 0.07 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 5
Total viewers: 352,000
“The Spencer Sisters” – 0.06 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 4
Total viewers: 502,000
“Sullivan’s Crossing” – 0.06 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 4
Total viewers: 494,000
“The Swarm” – 0.06 demo rating
Air date: Sept. 12
Total viewers: 370,000
“FBoy Island” – 0.02 demo rating
Air date: Oct. 16
Total viewers: 158,000
