Television ratings are, of course, a crucial part of every TV season, making or breaking a new series or keeping an existing series on the air. And while the networks, and the all-important advertisers, prefer to look only at specific demographic ratings – namely among them the 18 to 34 year olds – I don’t agree with the “younger viewers are more important” philosophy.
That age group may be important because the networks and advertisers want the “young” watching their shows and buying their products, but it is actually the viewers over 40 who make the real difference. It’s just a shame that the networks and advertisers can’t see that.
In an effort to focus only on the overall viewership (typically the millions of viewers who watched each show) of the major and cable network dramas, the following lists are a breakdown of the entire year.
Each section below will feature a list of all the dramas (and dramas only) from highest to lowest rated and a brief explanation of the time period for which each list covers.
Let’s get started!!
The first list is the major network dramas that aired from January through May 2013, covering the last half of 2012-2013 TV season:
NCIS (CBS) – 19.4 million
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) -15.5 million
Person of Interest (CBS) – 13.4 million
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 10.7 million
Elementary (CBS) – 10.5 million
Castle (ABC) – 10.2 million
CSI (CBS) – 10.2 million
Criminal Minds (CBS) – 10.1 million
CSI: NY (CBS) – 9.7 million *
The Mentalist (CBS) – 9.5 million
The Good Wife (CBS) – 9.3 million
Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) – 8.7 million
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 8.6 million
Vegas (CBS) – 8.5 million *
Golden Boy (CBS) – 8.3 million *
Scandal (ABC) – 8.2 million
The Following (FOX) – 7.9 million
Body of Proof (ABC) – 7.9 million *
Once Upon a Time (ABC) – 7.5 million
Bones (FOX) – 7.3 million
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 6.8 million
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 6.4 million
Revolution (NBC) – 6.3 million
Glee (FOX) – 6.1 million
Nashville (ABC) – 5.6 million
Revenge (ABC) – 5.6 million
Zero Hour (ABC) – 5.5 million *
Last Resort (ABC) – 5.4 million *
Grimm (NBC) – 5.2 million
Parenthood (NBC) – 5.1 million
Private Practice (ABC) – 4.4 million *
Red Widow (ABC) – 4.1 million *
Deception (NBC) – 3.6 million *
Arrow (The CW) – 3 million
Hannibal (NBC) – 2.9 million
The Mob Doctor (FOX) – 2.9 million *
Do No Harm (NBC) – 2.7 million *
Smash (NBC) – 2.5 million *
The Vampire Diaries (The CW) – 2.5 million
Supernatural (The CW) – 2.2 million
Touch (FOX) – 2.2 million *
Fringe (FOX) – 1.9 million *
Beauty And the Beast (The CW) – 1.5 million
Emily Owens, M.D. (The CW) – 1.3 million *
The Carrie Diaries (The CW) – 1.3 million
Nikita (The CW) – 1.3 million
Hart of Dixie (The CW) – 1.2 million
Cult (The CW) – 759,000 viewers *
90210 (The CW) – 596,000 viewers *
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
The second list covers all of the cable network dramas from that same time period – January through May – and just a little into June:
The Walking Dead (AMC) – 11.4 million
The Bible (5-part limited series on History Channel) – 11.4 million
Downton Abbey (PBS) – 8.5 million (approximate)
Game of Thrones (HBO) – 5 million
Vikings (9-part limited series on History Channel) – 4.3 million
Suits (USA Network) – 3.3 million
Bates Motel (FX) – 2.8 million
Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family) – 2.7 million
Psych (USA Network) – 2.6 million
Mad Men (AMC) – 2.5 million
Dallas (TNT) – 2.5 million
Army Wives (Lifetime) – 2.5 million *
Justified (FX) – 2.4 million
American Horror Story: Asylum (FX) – 2.3 million
White Collar (USA Network) – 2.3 million
The Client List (Lifetime) – 2.1 million *
Necessary Roughness (USA Network) – 2.1 million
Defiance (Syfy) – 1.9 million
The Americans (FX) – 1.8 million
Switched at Birth (ABC Family) – 1.7 million
Merlin (Syfy) – 1.5 million *
Monday Mornings (TNT) – 1.4 million *
Southland (TNT) – 1.4 million *
Haven (Syfy) – 1.4 million
Warehouse 13 (Syfy) – 1.4 million
The Lying Game (ABC Family) – 1.3 million *
Doctor Who (BBC America) – 1.2 million (approximate)
Bunheads (ABC Family) – 1.1 million *
Being Human (Syfy) – 1.1 million
The Secret Life of the American Teenager (ABC Family) – 1 million *
Continuum (Syfy) – 1 million
Spartacus (Starz) – 1 million *
Lost Girl (Syfy) – 989,000 viewers
The Borgias (Showtime) – 569,000 viewers *
Da Vinci’s Demons (Starz) – 518,000 viewers
Banshee (Cinemax) – 445,000 viewers
Orphan Black (BBC America) – 417,000 viewers
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
The third list covers all of the dramas that aired on both the major and cable networks over the summer, specifically from late May to approximately mid-September:
Under the Dome (CBS) – 10.9 million
Rizzoli & Isles (TNT) – 5.7 million
Rookie Blue (ABC) – 5.5 million
Major Crimes (TNT) – 4.9 million
Motive (ABC) – 4.8 million
True Blood (HBO) – 4.2 million
Mistresses (ABC) – 4 million
Longmire (A&E) – 3.8 million
Royal Pains (USA Network) – 3.5 million
Perception (TNT) – 3.5 million
Falling Skies (TNT) – 3.1 million
King & Maxwell (TNT) – 3.1 million *
Suits (USA Network) – 2.9 million
The Glades (A&E) – 2.6 million *
Pretty Little Liars (ABC Family) – 2.6 million
Devious Maids (Lifetime) – 2.5 million
Covert Affairs (USA Network) – 2.5 million
Necessary Roughness (USA Network) – 2.5 million *
Dexter (Showtime) – 2.4 million *
Burn Notice (USA Network) – 2.3 million *
Hit the Floor (VH1) – 2.2 million
Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime) – 2.2 million
Graceland (USA Network) – 2.2 million
Cedar Cove (Hallmark) – 2.1 million (average)
Franklin & Bash (TNT) – 1.9 million
Teen Wolf (MTV) – 1.9 million
Zero Hour (ABC) – 1.9 million *
666 Park Avenue (ABC) – 1.9 million *
The Haves and Have Nots (Oxygen) – 1.8 million
The Fosters (ABC Family) – 1.8 million
The Bridge (FX) – 1.8 million
Switched at Birth (ABC Family) – 1.8 million
Do No Harm (NBC) – 1.7 million *
Ray Donovan (Showtime) – 1.5 million
Twisted (ABC Family) – 1.5 million
The Killing (AMC) – 1.2 million *
Continuum (Syfy) – 1.2 million
Primeval: New World (Syfy) – 900,000 viewers *
Sinbad (Syfy) – 844,000 viewers *
Cult (The CW) – 563,000 viewers *
Magic City (Starz) – 457,000 viewers *
Being Human (BBC America) – 108,000 viewers *
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
The fourth list covers the cable network dramas that aired from approximately August to mid-December:
The Walking Dead (AMC) – 11.6 million
Sons of Anarchy (FX) – 4.5 million
American Horror Story: Coven (FX) – 4.2 million
Major Crimes (TNT) – 4 million (approximate) **
Pretty Little Liars [Halloween Episode] (ABC Family) – 3.2 million
White Collar (USA Network) – 2.3 million
Boardwalk Empire (HBO) – 2.1 million
Homeland (Showtime) – 2 million
Covert Affairs (USA Network) – 1.9 million
Hell on Wheels (AMC) – 1.9 million
Haven (Syfy) – 1.5 million
Mob City (3-part limited series) (TNT) – 1.7 million
Drop Dead Diva (Lifetime) – 1.7 million
Witches of East End (Lifetime) – 1.7 million
Ravenswood (ABC Family) – 1.3 million
Masters of Sex (Showtime) – 1.1 million
Low Winter Sun (AMC) – 1.1 million *
The White Queen (Starz) – 831,000 viewers
Strike Back (Cinemax) – 400 viewers (approximate)
Atlantis (BBC America) – 398,000 viewers (approximate) ***
Strike Back: Origins (Cinemax) – 198,000 viewers (approximate)
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
** Major Crimes aired two episodes on December 23 and December 29, but those ratings could not be factored in to this list.
*** Atlantis aired one final episode in 2013 on December 28, but that rating could not be factored in to this list.
The fifth and final list covers all of the major network dramas that aired during the first half of the 2013-2014 TV season, covering September to approximately mid-December:
NCIS (CBS) – 19 million
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) – 14.7 million
Person of Interest (CBS) – 12.1 million
The Blacklist (NBC) – 11.3 million
Castle (ABC) – 11.1 million
Criminal Minds (CBS) – 11.1 million
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 10.9 million
CSI (CBS) – 9.8 million
Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) – 9.4 million
The Good Wife (CBS) – 9.4 million
The Mentalist (CBS) – 9.2 million
Scandal (ABC) – 9.1 million
Elementary (CBS) – 9 million
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 8.2 million
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) – 7.9 million
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 7.9 million
Sleepy Hollow (FOX) – 7.5 million
Once Upon a Time (ABC) – 7.1 million
Bones (FOX) – 7 million
Almost Human (FOX) – 6.6 million
Revenge (ABC) – 6.2 million
Nashville (ABC) – 5.7 million
Ironside (NBC) – 5.6 million (only 3 episodes aired) *
Grimm (NBC) – 5.5 million
Revolution (NBC) – 5.4 million
Hostages (ABC) – 5.2 million
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 5 million
Glee (FOX) – 4.5 million
Parenthood (NBC) – 4.2 million
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (ABC) – 4.1 million
Lucky 7 (ABC) – 3.7 million (only 2 episodes aired) *
Betrayal (ABC) -3.6 million
Dracula (NBC) – 3.6 million
Arrow (The CW) – 2.8 million
The Vampire Diaries (The CW) – 2.5 million
Supernatural (The CW) – 2.3 million
The Originals (The CW) – 2.2 million
The Tomorrow People (The CW) – 1.8 million
Reign (The CW) – 1.8 million
Hart of Dixie (The CW) – 1.1 million
Beauty And the Beast (The CW) – 866,000 viewers
The Carrie Diaries (The CW) – 839,000 viewers
Nikita (The CW) – 773,000 viewers *
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
The final analyses of all these ratings for both the major and cable networks for the entire year are as follows:
1. CBS remains the number one most watched network with NCIS and its spin-off NCIS: Los Angeles, once again, being the highest rated dramas for the entire year of 2013. The network also had the most dramas in the top 20 over all of the other networks;
2. The top new drama of the fall season goes to NBC with The Blacklist. The FOX drama Sleepy Hollow hasn’t reached double digit numbers, but it is the most-buzzed-about new drama of the fall season; and to the surprise of many The CW series Reign is actually pulling in better than expected ratings;
3. Castle is still the top rated drama over at ABC, but Scandal is closing in fast. Also, the much-hyped Joss Whedon series Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was expected to be the ratings darling of the fall, but that just has not happened;
4. NBC has had success with its reality programming (for the most part), but is suffering greatly with its comedies and can only crow over the undeniable success of The Blacklist, but it is the little-talked-about Chicago Fire that is really making waves and should get far more credit than it has to date;
5. FOX is having another less-than-banner year – despite the appeal of Sleepy Hollow – and while the long-running drama Bones finally provided fans with the wedding of its titular characters, the ratings for its few dramas just aren’t there;
6. The CW has seen its returning dramas Beauty And the Beast, The Carrie Diaries and the final season of Nikita all crumble in the ratings, in all three cases drastically; and the hoped-for-success of the UK remake of The Tomorrow People being the next Arrow just hasn’t happened either. However, Arrow is still going strong, Supernatural has had yet another resurgence and the new dramas The Originals and Reign are both pulling in great numbers;
7. In the cable world, its reigning king – The Walking Dead on AMC – is the show that is still going strong; and on the opposite spectrum the History Channel limited series The Bible pulled in far greater numbers than anyone could have prophesized. CBS was also able to add yet another hit series to its line-up, albeit a summer series, in the form of the Stephen King inspired drama Under the Dome. And, Downton Abbey continues to bring in more and more viewers for PBS with each new season.
But wait there is one last list. The following list, which is very lengthy, covers all of the made-for-TV movies, mini-series and specials that aired during 2013 on both the major and cable networks for which ratings could be tracked down:
The Sound of Music (3-Hour LIVE Presentation) – 18.5 million
Bonnie & Clyde (2-night event on A&E, History and Lifetime) – 9.8 million (first night)
Teen Beach Movie (Disney) – 8.4 million
Bonnie & Clyde (2-night event on A&E, History and Lifetime) – 7.4 million (second night)
Remember Sunday (ABC) – 6.8 million
Christmas in Conway (ABC) – 6.5 million
The Wizards of Waverly Place (Disney) – 5.9 million
The Makeover (ABC) – 5.2 million
Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story (VH1) – 4.5 million
A Very Merry Mix-Up (Hallmark) – 4.3 million
The Christmas Ornament (Hallmark) – 4.3 million
Let It Snow (Hallmark) – 4.2 million
Being Mary Jane (BET) – 4 million
Catch a Christmas Star (Hallmark) – 3.9 million
Fir Crazy (Hallmark) – 3.8 million
Window Wonderland (Hallmark) – 3.7 million
Killing Lincoln (National Geographic) – 3.4 million
Snow Bride (Hallmark) – 3.4 million
The Christmas Spirit (Hallmark) – 3.4 million
Killing Kennedy (National Geographic) – 3.4 million
Prosecuting Casey Anthony (Lifetime) – 3.3 million
Anna Nicole (Lifetime) – 3.3 million
The Thanksgiving House (Hallmark) – 3.2 million
Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret (Lifetime) – 3.1 million
Santa Switch (Hallmark) – 3 million
Christmas on the Bayou (Lifetime) – 3 million
Twists of Faith (Lifetime) – 2.9 million
Second Chances (Hallmark) – 2.8 million
The Good Witch’s Destiny (Hallmark) – 2.8 million
Christmas in the City (Lifetime) – 2.6 million
Holidaze (ABC Family) – 2.6 million
A Country Christmas Story (Lifetime) – 2.5 million
Doctor Who Christmas Episode “The Time of the Doctor” (BBC America) – 2.5 million
Behind the Candelabra (HBO) – 2.4 million
Finding Christmas (Hallmark) – 2.4 million
Doctor Who “The Day of the Doctor” [50th Anniversary Special] (BBC America) – 2.4 million
Garage Sale Mystery (Hallmark) – 2.3 million
An Amish Murder (Lifetime) – 2.2 million
Betty & Coretta (Lifetime) – 2.2 million
Psych: The Musical Episode (USA Network) – 2.2 million
Pastor Brown (Lifetime) – 2.1 million
A Snow Globe Christmas (Lifetime) – 2.1 million
Ring of Fire (Lifetime) – 2.1 million
Baby Sellers (Lifetime) – 2.1 million
Dear Secret Santa (Lifetime) – 2.1 million
Be My Valentine (Hallmark) – 2 million
The Sweeter Side of Life (Hallmark) – 2 million
Romeo Killer: The Chris Porco Story (Lifetime) – 2 million
End of the World (Syfy) – 1.9 million
All I Want for Christmas (ION) – 1.9 million
The Challenger Disaster (simulcast on Science and Discovery) – 1.9 million
Tasmanian Devil (Syfy) – 1.8 million
Escape from Polygamy (Lifetime) – 1.8 million
A Sister’s Nightmare (Lifetime) – 1.8 million
Taken: The Search for Sophie Parker (Lifetime) – 1.8 million
Christmas Belle (ION) – 1.8 million
Sins of the Preacher (Lifetime) – 1.7 million
The Twelve Trees of Christmas (Lifetime) – 1.7 million
Missing at 17 (Lifetime) – 1.7 million
Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Hallmark) – 1.7 million
Gone Missing (Lifetime) – 1.7 million
The Husband She Met Online (Lifetime) – 1.6 million
Hidden Away (Lifetime) – 1.6 million
The Good Mother (Lifetime) – 1.6 million
Beast of the Bering Sea (Syfy) – 1.5 million
Reading, Writing & Romance (Hallmark) – 1.5 million
The Cheating Pact (Lifetime) – 1.5 million
Beverly Lewis’ The Confession (Hallmark) – 1.5 million
Battledogs (Syfy) – 1.5 million
A Mother’s Rage (Lifetime) – 1.5 million
Abominable Snowman (Syfy) – 1.5 million
Chupacabra vs. The Alamo (Syfy) – 1.5 million
Stonados (Syfy) – 1.5 million
Pete’s Christmas (Hallmark) – 1.5 million
Kristin’s Christmas Past (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
The Surrogate (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
Robocroc (Syfy) – 1.4 million
Sharknado (Syfy) – 1.4 million
Banner 4th of July (Hallmark) – 1.4 million
Lovestruck: The Musical (ABC Family) – 1.4 million
A Sister’s Revenge (Lifetime) – 1.3 million
Grave Halloween (Syfy) – 1.3 million
Notes from Dad (Hallmark) – 1.3 million
Call Me Crazy: A Five Film (Lifetime) – 1.3 million
Nearlyweds (Hallmark) – 1.3 million
Invasion Roswell (Syfy) – 1.2 million
Dangerous Intuition (Lifetime) – 1.2 million
Into the Dark (Lifetime) – 1.2 million
Zombie Night (Syfy) – 1.1 million
Deadly Spa (Lifetime) – 1.1 million
Rajin’ Cajun Redneck Gators (Syfy) – 1.1 million
Shadow on the Mesa (Hallmark Movie Channel) – 1.1 million
Restless Virgins (Lifetime) – 1.1 million
Our Wild Hearts (Hallmark Movie Channel) – 1.1 million
Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome (Syfy) – 1.1 million
Goodnight for Justice: The Queen of Hearts (Hallmark Movie Channel) – 1 million
Stalkers (Lifetime) – 983,000 viewers
Over/Under (USA Network) – 921,000 viewers
Tom, Dick & Harriet (Hallmark) – 855,000 viewers
Christmas Bounty (ABC Family) – 828,000 viewers
Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story (Hallmark) – 706,000 viewers
Mary & Martha (HBO) – 552,000 viewers
Space Warriors (Hallmark) – 479,000 viewers
Dear Dumb Diary (Hallmark) – 259,000 viewers
Parade’s End (4-part mini-series HBO) – 177,000 viewers (average)
What shows, made-for-TV movies, mini-series and/or specials have you enjoyed the most throughout the year? Please share.
FINAL NOTE: Please note that I do not include DVR ratings, online viewership (et al) because those numbers – while helpful for the networks to know just how many people are actually watching their shows – are not seen as essential because none of these viewing options provide advertising money or at least not enough to really make a difference.
TOMORROW: Faces of 2013
Rueben's Ramblings 
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