TV ratings are the life’s blood of every series on the major and cable networks. The success or failure of every show is at the mercy of their ratings.
As I have stated for years, the networks, unfortunately, have become far too dependent on the very limiting 18-39 year old viewers and are continuing to ignore – NO! – overlook the rest of the viewers who are outside of that age group.
Needless to say, it has been my mission for years to focus only on the overall viewership (the millions of viewers who watched each show) of the major and cable network dramas. 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.
Here we go…
The first list is the major network dramas that aired from January through approximately June, covering the last half of the 2016-2017 TV season:
NCIS (CBS) – 14.2 million viewers
Bull (CBS) – 10.6 million viewers
This Is Us (NBC) – 10 million viewers
Blue Bloods and NCIS: Los Angeles (both CBS) – 9.5 million viewers
NCIS: New Orleans (CBS) – 9.4 million viewers
Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) – 8.9 million viewers
Madam Secretary (CBS) – 7.8 million viewers
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 7.7 million viewers
MacGyver (CBS) – 7.4 million viewers
Scorpion and Criminal Minds (both CBS) – 7.1 million viewers
Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. (both NBC) – 6.7 million viewers
Empire (FOX) and Chicago Med (NBC) – 6.5 million viewers
Lethal Weapon (FOX) – 6.2 million viewers
Chicago Justice (NBC) * and Code Black (CBS) – 6.1 million viewers
Scandal (ABC) – 5.7 million viewers
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 5.6 million viewers
Taken (NBC) and Pure Genius (CBS) * – 5.3 million viewers
Designated Survivor (ABC) – 5.2 million viewers
24: Legacy (FOX) – 5.1 million viewers *
Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (CBS) *; How to Get Away With Murder (ABC) and The Blacklist (NBC) – 4.9 million viewers
Elementary (CBS) – 4.7 million viewers
Blindspot (NBC) – 4.4 million viewers
Shades of Blue (NBC) – 4.3 million viewers
Lucifer and Star (both FOX) and The Blacklist: Redemption * and Grimm (NBC) * – 4.1 million viewers
Gotham (FOX) – 3.6 million viewers
Shots Fired (FOX) * and Ransom (CBS) – 3.5 million viewers
APB (FOX) *; Training Day (CBS) * and The Catch (ABC) * – 3.4 million viewers
Timeless (NBC) – 3.3 million viewers
Bones (FOX) – 3.2 million viewers *
Quantico (ABC) and Emerald City (NBC) * – 3 million viewers
Rosewood (FOX) – 2.7 million viewers *
Prison Break (FOX) *; Once Upon a Time (ABC) and The Flash (The CW) – 2.6 million viewers
Conviction (ABC) – 2.4 million viewers *
Doubt (CBS) – 2.3 million viewers *
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) – 2.2 million viewers
Time After Time (ABC) * and Supergirl (The CW) – 2.1 million viewers
Sleepy Hollow (FOX) * and American Crime (ABC) * – 1.9 million viewers
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (The CW) – 1.7 million viewers
Arrow and Supernatural (both The CW) – 1.6 million viewers
The 100; Riverdale; The Originals and The Vampire Diaries * (all The CW) – 1 million viewers
Jane the Virgin (The CW) – 951,000 viewers
iZombie (The CW) – 977,000 viewers
Reign (The CW) – 771,000 viewers *
Frequency (The CW) – 765,000 viewers *
No Tomorrow (The CW) – 648,000 viewers *
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW) – 598,000 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 June:
The Walking Dead (AMC) – 10.8 million viewers
The Haves and Have Nots (OWN) – 2.6 million viewers
Vikings (History Channel) – 2.5 million viewers
Major Crimes (TNT) – 2.4 million viewers *
When Calls the Heart (Hallmark Channel) – 2.2 million viewers
Into the Badlands (AMC) – 2 million viewers
If Loving You Is Wrong (OWN) and The Librarians (TNT) – 1.9 million viewers
Better Call Saul (AMC) – 1.7 million viewers
Six (History Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Shooter (USA Network) and Greenleaf (OWN) – 1.4 million viewers
Homeland (Showtime); Suits (USA Network) and Bates Motel (A&E) * – 1.3 million viewers
Taboo (FX); The Son (AMC) and Big Little Lies (HBO) – 1.2 million viewers
The Breaks (VH1/BET); Too Close to Home (TLC) ^ and Fargo (FX) ^ – 1.1 million viewers
Nashville (CMT) – 977,000 viewers
Being Mary Jane (BET) – 969,000 viewers *
Legion (FX) – 938,000 viewers
Genius (National Geographic) – 927,000 viewers
Pretty Little Liars (Freeform) – 899,000 viewers *
Billions (Showtime) – 874,000 viewers
Good Behavior (TNT) – 863,000 viewers
The Leftovers (HBO) – 853,000 viewers *
Colony (USA Network) – 814,000 viewers
The Quad (BET) – 802,000 viewers
The Magicians (Syfy) – 789,000 viewers
The White Princess (Starz) – 788,000 viewers
Outsiders (WGN America) – 773,000 viewers *
The Americans (FX) – 758,000 viewers
Imposters (Bravo) – 731,000 viewers
The Fosters (Freeform) – 716,000 viewers
American Gods (Starz) – 714,000 viewers
Shadowhunters (Freeform) – 701,000 viewers
The Arrangement (E!) – 665,000 viewers
The Affair (Showtime) – 653,000 viewers
Mary Kills People (Lifetime) – 632,000 viewers
Doctor Who (BBC America) – 620,000 viewers
Sun Records (CMT) * and The Young Pope (HBO) ^ – 585,000 viewers
Underground (WGN America) – 567,000 viewers *
The Expanse (Syfy) – 508,000 viewers
Switched at Birth (Freeform) *; Black Sails (Starz) * and The Royals (E!) – 501,000 viewers
Incorporated (Syfy) – 457,000 viewers *
Teen Wolf (MTV) – 452,000 viewers *
Rebel (BET) – 448,000 viewers ^
Beyond (Freeform) – 444,000 viewers
Humans (AMC) – 408,000 viewers
Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (Bravo) – 376,000 viewers
12 Monkeys (Syfy) – 346,000 viewers
Famous in Love (Freeform) – 331,000 viewers
Class (BBC America) – 274,000 viewers *
Salem (WGN America) – 249,000 viewers *
Sweet/Vicious (MTV) – 178,000 viewers *
Hap and Leonard (SundanceTV) – 174,000 viewers
The Missing (Starz) – 169,000 viewers ^
Guerrilla (Showtime) – 102,000 viewers *
Gomorrah (SundanceTV) – 55,000 viewers ^
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes those shows that have yet to be renewed
NOTE: Ratings for the following shows could not be tracked down: Heartland (UP TV), Mercy Street, Sherlock and Victoria (all on PBS) and Rogue and Ice (both on DirecTV).
The third list covers the dramas that aired on the major networks over the summer from about the end of April through about mid-September:
The Night Shift (NBC) – 4.2 million viewers *
Salvation (CBS) – 3.6 million viewers
Zoo (CBS) – 3 million viewers *
Midnight, Texas (NBC) – 2.9 million viewers ^
Doubt (CBS) – 2.3 million viewers *
Somewhere Between (ABC) – 1.9 million viewers ^
Still Star-Crossed (ABC) – 1.5 million viewers *
Hooten & the Lady (The CW) – 961,000 viewers *
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes those shows that have yet to be renewed
The fourth list covers all of the dramas that aired on the cable networks over the summer from about the middle of May through the first couple weeks of October:
Game of Thrones (HBO) – 10.3 million viewers
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC) – 2.6 million viewers
The Haves and the Have Nots (OWN) – 2.5 million viewers
Good Witch (Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million viewers
Power (Starz); Chesapeake Shores (Hallmark Channel) ^ and The Sinner (USA Network) – 1.8 million viewers
Queen Sugar (OWN) – 1.7 million viewers
The Last Ship (TNT); Suits (USA Network) and Greenleaf (OWN) – 1.5 million viewers
Preacher (AMC); Queen of the South and Shooter (both on USA Network) and Animal Kingdom (TNT) – 1.2 million viewers
Ray Donovan (Showtime) – 1.1 million viewers
The Strain (FX) – 983,000 viewers *
Manhunt: Unabomber (Discovery Channel) – 888,000 viewers
Being Mary Jane (BET) – 747,000 viewers
Younger (TV Land) – 735,000 viewers
Nashville (CMT) – 722,000 viewers
The Fosters (Freeform) – 688,000 viewers
Turn: Washington’s Spies (AMC) – 630,000 viewers *
Killjoys (Syfy) – 624,000 viewers
Dark Matter (Syfy) – 569,000 viewers *
Wynonna Earp (Syfy) – 499,000 viewers
The Mist (Spike TV) – 462,000 viewers *
Teen Wolf (MTV) – 461,000 viewers *
Blood Drive (Syfy) – 393,000 viewers *
Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce (Bravo) – 392,000 viewers
Will (TNT) – 383,000 viewers *
The Bold Type (Freeform) – 325,000 viewers
Broadchurch (BBC America) – 319,000 viewers *
Orphan Black (BBC America) – 274,000 viewers *
Twin Peaks (Showtime) – 248,000 viewers ^
Cleverman (SundanceTV) – 69,000 viewers ^
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes those shows that have yet to be renewed
NOTE: Ratings for the following show could not be tracked down: Grantchester, Prime Suspect: Tennison, Remember Me, Endeavour, The Tunnel: Sabotage (all on PBS); Mr. Mercedes (DirecTV) and Date My Dad (UP TV).
The fifth list covers the cable network dramas that aired from approximately August to mid-December:
The Walking Dead (AMC) – 8.6 million viewers
American Horror Story: Cult (FX) – 2.2 million viewers
Major Crimes (TNT) – 2.1 million viewers *
Vikings (History Channel) – 1.7 million viewers ^
Fear the Walking Dead (AMC) – 1.6 million viewers
Outlander (Starz); The Librarians (TNT) ^ and Knightfall (History Channel) ^ – 1.5 million viewers
Queen Sugar (OWN) – 1.3 million viewers
The Deuce (HBO) – 879,000 viewers
Happy (Syfy) – 775,000 viewers ^
Damnation (USA Network) – 729,000 viewers ^
The Long Road Home (National Geographic Channel) – 599,000 viewers
Good Behavior (TNT) – 595,000 viewers
Z Nation (Syfy) – 590,000 viewers
Mr. Robot (USA Network) – 529,000 viewers
Van Helsing (Syfy) – 412,000 viewers ^
Channel Zero: No-End House (Syfy) – 405,000 viewers
Gunpowder (HBO) – 393,000 viewers
Superstition (Syfy) – 364,000 viewers ^
Ghost Wars (Syfy) – 350,000 viewers ^
The Shannara Chronicles (SpikeTV) – 246,000 viewers **
Halt & Catch Fire (AMC) – 226,000 viewers *
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (BBC America) – 221,000 viewers *
Liar (SundanceTV) – 109,000 viewers (average)
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes all the shows missing at least one episode aired during the last week of December
** denotes the shows that have yet to be renewed
NOTE: Ratings for the following shows could not be tracked down: Versailles and The Halcyon (both on Ovation); Poldark, Last Tango in Halifax and The Durrells of Corfu (all on PBS) and Berlin Station (EPIX).
The sixth and final list covers all of the major network dramas that aired during the first half of the 2017-2018 TV season, covering September to approximately mid-December:
NCIS (CBS) – 12.8 million viewers
The Good Doctor (ABC) – 10.6 million viewers
This Is Us (NBC) – 10.5 million viewers
Bull (CBS) – 10.3 million viewers
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 9.1 million viewers
NCIS: New Orleans (CBS) – 9 million viewers
Hawaii Five-0 (CBS) – 8.6 million viewers
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 7.8 million viewers
NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS) – 7.7 million viewers
Wisdom of the Crowd * and SEAL Team (both CBS) – 7.5 million viewers
MacGyver (CBS) – 6.8 million viewers
S.W.A.T. (CBS) – 6.4 million viewers
Madam Secretary (CBS) and Chicago Fire and Chicago Med (both NBC) – 6.3 million viewers
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 6.1 million viewers
Criminal Minds (CBS) – 6 million viewers
Empire (FOX) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 5.8 million viewers
The Blacklist (NBC) – 5.5 million viewers
The Brave (NBC) and Scorpion (CBS) – 5.2 million viewers
Scandal (ABC) – 5 million viewers
Law & Order: True Crime – The Menendez Murders (NBC) – 4.7 million viewers
Designated Survivor (ABC) – 4.4 million viewers
Star (FOX) – 4.3 million viewers
Lethal Weapon and The Orville (both FOX) – 4 million viewers
How to Get Away With Murder (ABC) – 3.8 million viewers
Blindspot (NBC) – 3.5 million viewers
Lucifer and The Gifted (both FOX) – 3.4 million viewers
Kevin (Probably) Saves the World (ABC) – 3 million viewers
Gotham (FOX) – 2.8 million viewers
Marvel’s Inhumans (ABC) – 2.6 million viewers
Once Upon a Time (ABC) – 2.5 million viewers
The Flash (The CW) – 2.4 million viewers
Ten Days in the Valley (ABC) – 2.2 million viewers * ^
Supergirl (The CW) – 1.9 million viewers
Supernatural (The CW) and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) – 1.8 million viewers
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (The CW) – 1.7 million viewers
Riverdale (The CW) – 1.6 million viewers
Arrow (The CW) – 1.5 million viewers
The Exorcist (FOX) – 1.4 million viewers
Valor (The CW) – 1 million viewers *
Dynasty (The CW) – 806,000 viewers
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW) – 667,000 viewers
Jane the Virgin (The CW) – 654,000 viewers
* denotes all those shows that have come to a planned ending or not received additional episode orders
^ denotes all the shows missing at least one episode aired during the last week of December
The final analyses of all these ratings for both the major and cable networks for the entire year are as follows:
1. It goes without saying that NCIS is the reigning champ for yet another TV season. In fact, CBS is still the top network overall, once again, with more dramas in the top 10 than any other network. The Good Doctor was the top rated new drama for the fall TV season. Elementary and Doubt were the lowest rated shows for the network for the first part of the year while Criminal Minds ranked lowest for the fall TV season.
2. Grey’s Anatomy repeats as the number one drama on ABC with Scandal coming in a close second. The short-lived Time After Time and American Crime were the lowest rated dramas for the first part of the year with Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Ten Days in the Valley coming in as the lowest dramas for the fall TV season.
3. Empire was the highest rated drama on FOX again this whole year with the cancelled Sleepy Hollow coming in as the lowest rated drama for the first part of the TV year and The Exorcist being the lowest rated drama for the fall TV season.
4. It is no great surprise that This Is Us is the top rated drama for the entire TV year for NBC while Emerald City came in as the lowest drama for the first part of the year while Blindspot ranked at the bottom for the fall TV season.
5. The Flash is still the top rated drama on The CW; but Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend have been taking turns being the lowest rated dramas for the first part of the year and the fall TV season.
6. As for the cable networks, The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones fought it out for the top slot as highest rated cable drama while several of the dramas on SundanceTV – Gomorrah, Cleverman and Liar – were the lowest rated dramas of the entire year.
The final list – which is VERY long – covers all of the made-for-TV movies, mini-series, event series and specials that aired during 2017 on both the major and cable networks for which ratings could be tracked down.
Here is the LONG list:
Dirty Dancing (ABC) – 6.6 million
Descendants 2 (Disney) – 5.3 million
Switched for Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 5.2 million
The Christmas Train (Hallmark Channel) – 4.9 million
The Christmas Cottage (Hallmark Channel) – 4.6 million
A Christmas Story Live (FOX) – 4.5 million
Christmas Getaway (Hallmark Channel) – 4.4 million
Christmas Next Door (Hallmark Channel) – 4.4 million
Coming Home for Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 4.1 million
Finding Santa (Hallmark Channel) – 4.1 million
The New Edition Story (BET) [Three-Part Mini-Series] – 4.1 million
Christmas Connection (Hallmark Channel) – 4 million
Christmas in Evergreen (Hallmark Channel) – 4 million
A Gift to Remember (Hallmark Channel) – 3.9 million
Christmas at Holly Lodge (Hallmark Channel) – 3.9 million
The Sweetest Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.9 million
Sharing Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.7 million
Enchanted Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.6 million
Miss Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.6 million
When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree (Hallmark Channel) – 3.6 million
With Love, Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.6 million
A Rose for Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.5 million
Marry Me at Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.4 million
The Mistletoe Inn (Hallmark Channel) – 3.4 million
Christmas Festival of Ice (Hallmark Channel) – 3.2 million
When We Rise (4-night mini-series) [ABC] – 2.9 million
All of My Heart: Inn Love (Hallmark Channel) – 2.8 million
Love on Ice (Hallmark Channel) – 2.8 million
A Harvest Wedding (Hallmark Channel) – 2.7 million
A Royal Winter (Hallmark Channel) – 2.7 million
Good Witch: Spellbound (Hallmark Channel) – 2.7 million
Harvest Love (Hallmark Channel) – 2.7 million
Falling for Vermont (Hallmark Channel) – 2.6 million
Love Struck Café (Hallmark Channel) – 2.6 million
A Dash of Love (Hallmark Channel) – 2.5 million
Moonlight in Vermont (Hallmark Channel) – 2.5 million
The Birthday Wish (Hallmark Channel) – 2.4 million
The Perfect Catch (Hallmark Channel) – 2.4 million
Walking the Dog (Hallmark Channel) – 2.4 million
Campfire Kiss (Hallmark Channel) – 2.3 million
Wedding March 2: Resorting to Love (Hallmark Channel) – 2.3 million
Beaches (Lifetime) – 2.2 million
Destination Wedding (Hallmark Channel) – 2.2 million
Love at First Bark (Hallmark Channel) – 2.2 million
Love at the Shore (Hallmark Channel) – 2.2 million
Love Blossoms (Hallmark Channel) – 2.2 million
Rocky Mountain Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 2.2 million
Sun, Sand and Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 2.2 million
I Am Elizabeth Smart (Lifetime) – 2.1 million
My Favorite Wedding (Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million
Romance at Reindeer Lodge (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 2.1 million
The Christmas Cure (Hallmark Channel) – 2.1 million
All For Love (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million
Eat, Play, Love (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million
Like Cats and Dogs (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million
Michael Jackson: Searching for Neverland (Lifetime) – 2 million
Summer in the Vineyard (Hallmark Channel) 2 million
The Perfect Bride (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million
The Art of Us (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million
Engaging Father Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.8 million
Christmas in Angel Falls (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million
A Bramble House Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.7 million
Garage Sale Mystery: Murder By Text (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.7 million
Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.7 million
Christmas Homecoming (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.6 million
Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of Murder (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.6 million
Garage Sale Mystery: The Beach Murders (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.6 million
While You Were Dating (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million
New York Prison Break: The Seduction of Joyce Mitchell (Lifetime) – 1.5 million
The Wizard of Lies (HBO) – 1.5 million
A Bundle of Trouble: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.4 million
Christmas In the Air (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million
Double Mommy (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
Feud: Bette & Joan (8-part mini-series) [FX] – 1.4 million
Garage Sale Mystery: Murder Most Medieval (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.4 million
Magical Christmas Ornaments (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.4 million
Mommy, I Didn’t Do It (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
Mommy’s Little Boy (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
Snowed-Inn Christmas (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
Stalker’s Prey (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
The Lost Wife of Robert Durst (Lifetime) – 1.4 million
A Song for Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.3 million
An Uncommon Grace (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.3 million
At Home in Mitford (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million
Christmas in Mississippi (Lifetime) – 1.3 million
Concrete Evidence: A Fixer Upper Mystery (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.3 million
Dead Over Heels: An Aurora Teagarden Mystery (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.3 million
Framed for Murder: A Fixer Upper Mystery (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.3 million
Home of Christmas Day (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.3 million
Love at First Glance (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million
Menendez Blood Brothers (Lifetime) – 1.3 million
Murder She Baked: Just Desserts (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.3 million
Psych: The Movie (USA Network) – 1.3 million
The Other Mother (Lifetime) – 1.3 million
The Perfect Christmas Present (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.3 million
The Wrong Mother (Lifetime) – 1.3 million
Wrapped Up in Christmas (Lifetime) – 1.3 million
A Joyous Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.2 million
Blood Father (USA Network) – 1.2 million
Cradle Swapping (Lifetime) – 1.2 million
Christmas Encore (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million
Custody (Lifetime) – 1.2 million
From Straight A’s to XXX (Lifetime) – 1.2 million
Love by the 10th Date (Lifetime) – 1.2 million
Signed Sealed Delivered: Home Again (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.2 million
Site Unseen: An Emma Fielding Mystery (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.2 million
A Very Merry Toy Store (Lifetime) – 1.1 million
Doctor Who Twice Upon a Time Christmas Special (BBC America) – 1.1 million
Garage Sale Mystery: The Art of Murder (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.1 million
Hailey Dean Mystery: Dating is Murder (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.1 million viewers
Hailey Dean Mystery: Deadly Estate (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.1 million
Love Locks (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million
My Christmas Prince (Lifetime) – 1.1 million
Signed Sealed and Delivered: Higher Ground (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.1 million
Sinister Minister (Lifetime) – 1.1 million
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (HBO) – 1.1 million
The Perfect Soulmate (Lifetime) – 1.1 million
The Wrong Neighbor (Lifetime) – 1.1 million
Under the Bed (Lifetime) – 1.1 million
Britney Ever After (Lifetime) 1 million
Open Marriage (Lifetime) – 1 million
Story of a Girl (Lifetime) – 998,000
The Watcher in the Woods (Lifetime) – 998,000
Oscar Pistorius: The Blade Runner Killer (Lifetime) – 997,000
High School Lover (Lifetime) – 974,000
The Sandman (Syfy) – 962,000
Infidelity in Suburbia (Lifetime) – 961,000
Darrow & Darrow (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 943,000
Fatal Defense (Lifetime) – 931,000
My Daughter Is Missing (Lifetime) – 925,000
Four Christmases and a Wedding (Lifetime) – 951,000
Flint (Lifetime) – 894,000
Gourmet Detective: Eat, Drink and Be Buried (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 887,000
A Surrogate’s Nightmare (Lifetime) – 815,000
Girl Followed (Lifetime) – 790,000
Tiny House of Terror (Lifetime) – 768,000
Sea Change (Lifetime) – 750,000
The Kennedys: After Camelot (Reelz Channel) – 743,000
Killer Mom (Lifetime) – 742,000
House of the Witch (Syfy) – 698,000
Deadly Sorority (Lifetime) – 696,000
Bobbi Kristina (TV One) – 660,000
Ten: Murder Island (Lifetime) – 651,000
The Wrong Bed: Naked Pursuit (Lifetime Movie Network) – 636,000
Secrets of My Stepdaughter (Lifetime) – 617,000
Daughter for Sale (Lifetime) – 608,000
Deadly Secrets by the Lake (Lifetime Movie Network) – 580,000
NeverKnock (Syfy) – 570,000
Girls Night Out (Lifetime Movie Network) – 564,000
A Very Country Christmas (UP TV) – 547,000
The Christmas Calendar (UP TV) – 532,000
The Stickman (Syfy) – 525,000
Angry Angel (Freeform) – 435,000
12 Days of Giving (UP TV) – 407,000
Drink, Slay, Love (Lifetime) – 407,000
Christmas Solo (UP TV) – 351,000
A Winter Wedding (UP TV) – 287,000
Top of the Lake: China Girl (SundanceTV) – 262,000
Miss Me This Christmas (TV One) – 257,000
You Can’t Fight Christmas (TV One) – 247,000
Downsized (TV One) – 204,000
NOTE: The Hallmark Channel movie Royal New Year’s Eve won’t air until December 30, 2017 and cannot be included in this article
Ratings for the following made-for-TV movies and/or mini-series could not be tracked down or weren’t available in time for this post:
A Royal Christmas Ball (ION)
Anne of Green Gables: The Good Star (PBS)
Call the Midwife Holiday Special (PBS)
Christmas Cruise (ION)
Christmas Princess (UP TV)
Call the Midwife (PBS)
Dark Angel (PBS)
High-Rise Rescue (UP Channel)
Home Fires (PBS)
King Charles (PBS)
Road Less Traveled (CMT)
Runaway Christmas Bride (ION)
Second Chance Christmas (UP TV)
Snowmance (ION)
The Spruces and the Pines (ION)
To Walk Invisible: The Bronte Sisters (PBS)
What shows, made-for-TV movies, mini-series and/or specials have you enjoyed the most throughout the year? Please share.
TOMORROW: Faces of 2017
Was FX’s SNOWFALL not a Drama?
Yes, Snowfall is a drama. There were a few dramas that I omitted from the overall list. Snowfall averaged out to 964,000 viewers for its run from July to September.