The TV landscape has changed quite a bit in the past 20 years since streaming started taking the attention away from linear TV, that would be the cable TV that you pay for through your cable or satellite provider.
And while linear TV isn’t watched as much as streaming, the major and cable networks still rely on the ratings system to determine how shows are performing. For nearly 15 years here at Rueben’s Ramblings I have been providing a yearly ratings report on how TV dramas, limited series, mini-series, anthology series and the like as well as made-for-TV movies have performed for each TV season.
I will continue to do that for as long as linear TV continues to exist, although I have a feeling that the major and cable networks are going to have to start changing their format in order to keep pace with all the streaming services that are available.
So let’s take a look at how the major and cable networks fared throughout 2024.
The first list is the major network dramas that aired from January through approximately May, covering the last half of the 2023-2024 TV season:
Tracker (CBS) – 7.4 million viewers (plus 18.4 million viewers for debut after The Super Bowl)
NCIS (CBS) – 6.5 million viewers
FBI (CBS) – 6.3 million viewers
The Equalizer (CBS) – 6.2 million viewers
Chicago Med (NBC) – 6.2 million viewers
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 6.1 million viewers
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 5.4 million viewers
FBI: International (CBS) – 5.3 million viewers
NCIS: Hawai’i (CBS) – 5.2 million viewers *
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 5.2 million viewers
Fire Country (CBS) – 5.1 million viewers
NCIS: Sydney (CBS) – 4.8 million viewers
FBI: Most Wanted (CBS) – 4.8 million viewers
9-1-1 (ABC) – 4.7 million viewers
S.W.A.T. (CBS) – 4.7 million viewers
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 4.6 million viewers
So Help Me Todd (CBS) – 4.4 million viewers *
Law & Order (NBC) – 4.3 million viewers
CSI: Vegas (CBS) – 4.2 million viewers *
Elsbeth (CBS) – 4.1 million viewers
Magnum P.I. (NBC) – 3.6 million viewers *
Will Trent (ABC) – 3.5 million viewers
Law & Order: Organized Crime (NBC) – 3.4 million viewers
The Rookie (ABC) – 3.3 million viewers
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 3.1 million viewers
The Irrational (NBC) – 2.8 million viewers
Yellowstone (Paramount Network) – 2.5 million viewers
Station 19 (ABC) – 2.5 million viewers *
The Good Doctor (ABC) – 2.5 million viewers *
Only Murders in the Building (ABC) – 2.4 million viewers
Found (NBC) – 2.4 million viewers
La Brea (NBC) – 2.1 million viewers *
Transplant (NBC) – 2.1 million viewers
The Cleaning Lady (FOX) – 1.8 million viewers
SEAL Team (CBS) – 1.7 million viewers *
Dr. Death (NBC) – 1.6 million viewers
Quantum Leap (NBC) – 1.4 million viewers *
Alert: Missing Persons Unit (FOX) – 1.1 million viewers
Wild Cards (CW) – 517,000 viewers
Family Law (CW) – 394,000 viewers
Ride (CW) – 308,000 viewers (approximately) *
* 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 approximate time period: January through May 2024:
When Calls the Heart (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
The Way Home (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (AMC) – 871,000 viewers
True Detective: Night Country (HBO) – 654,000 viewers
Shogun (FX) – 543,000 viewers
Resident Alien (Syfy) – 527,000 viewers
Fargo (FX) – 526,000 viewers
Monsiour Spade (AMC) – 333,000 viewers
Feud: Capote vs The Swans (FX) – 314,000 viewers
Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz) – 247,000 viewers
American Horror Story: Delicate (FX) – 236,000 viewers
The Regime (HBO) – 181,000 viewers *
Hightown (Starz) – 126,000 viewers (approximately) *
A Gentleman in Moscow (Showtime) – 118,000 viewers *
The Chi (Showtime) – 107,000 viewers (approximately)
The Sympathizer (HBO) – 102,000 viewers *
Good Trouble (Freeform) – 78,000 viewers *
The Curse (Showtime) – 37,000 viewers
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
No ratings for the following cable dramas that aired from January through May 2024 could be tracked down:
Harry Wild (BBC America)
Blue Ridge: The Series (Cowboy Way Channel)
County Rescue (Great American Family)
Beacon 23 and Belgravia: The Next Chapter (MGM+)
Genius: MLK/X (National Geographic)
Alice & Jack, All Creatures Great and Small, Call the Midwife, Funny Woman *, Guilt *, MaryLand *, Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Mr. Bates vs The Post Office and Nolly (all on PBS)
Mary & George * (Starz)
Hudson & Rex (UPtv)
The third list covers the dramas that aired on the major networks over the summer from May through approximately September/October 2024:
Tulsa King (CBS) – 3.3 million viewers (approximately)
Walker (CW) – 508,000 viewers *
All American (CW) – 403,000 viewers
Sight Unseen (CW) – 327,000 viewers
All American: Homecoming (CW) – 296,000 viewers *
61st Street (CW) – 175,000 viewers
* denotes those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
The fourth list covers the cable dramas, which aired from May through approximately September, where the ratings could be tracked down. Those dramas are:
House of the Dragon (HBO) – 1.3 million viewers
Snowpiercer (AMC) – 303,000 viewers (approximately) *
The Lazarus Project (TNT) – 217,000 viewers (approximately)
Power Book II: Ghost (Starz) – 210,000 viewers
The following cable network dramas that aired from May through approximately September/October where ratings could NOT be tracked down include the following:
Orphan Black: Echoes (AMC) *
My Life Is Murder (BBC America)
Industry (HBO)
Billy the Kid, Emperor of Ocean Park and Hotel Cocaine (MGM+)
Mayor of Kingstown (Paramount Network)
Cobra: Rebellion, D.I. Ray, Grantchester, Hotel Portofino and Professor T (all on PBS)
The Serpent Queen (Starz) *
The Ark (Syfy)
* denotes those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
The fifth list covers all of the major network dramas that aired during the first half of the 2024-2025 TV season, covering September/October to approximately mid-December:
Tracker (CBS) – 8.2 million viewers
Matlock (CBS) – 6.6 million viewers
FBI (CBS) – 6.3 million viewers
Chicago Med (NBC) – 5.7 million viewers
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 5.4 million viewers
NCIS (CBS) – 5.2 million viewers
Blue Bloods (CBS) – 5.1 million viewers *
FBI: International (CBS) – 5 million viewers
The Equalizer (CBS) – 4.9 million viewers
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 4.6 million viewers
9-1-1 (ABC) – 4.6 million viewers
Elsbeth (CBS) – 4.5 million viewers
Fire Country (CBS) – 4.5 million viewers
FBI: Most Wanted (CBS) – 4.4 million viewers
S.W.A.T. (CBS) – 4.3 million viewers
NCIS: Origins (CBS) – 4.1 million viewers
High Potential (ABC) – 3.6 million viewers
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 3.6 million viewers
Law & Order (NBC) – 3.5 million viewers
Doctor Odyssey (ABC) – 3.3 million viewers
Brilliant Minds (NBC) – 3.1 million viewers
9-1-1: Lone Star (FOX) – 2.8 million viewers
The Irrational (NBC) – 2.6 million viewers
Rescue: Hi-Surf (FOX) – 2.3 million viewers
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 2.3 million viewers
Found (NBC) – 2.2 million viewers
Murder in a Small Town (FOX) – 2.1 million viewers
Accused (FOX) – 1.4 million viewers
Superman & Lois (CW) – 474,000 viewers *
Sullivan’s Crossing (CW) – 457,000 viewers
The Chosen (CW) – 420,000 viewers (approximately)
Joan (CW) – 213,000 viewers *
* denotes those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
The sixth and final list covers the cable network dramas that aired from September through mid-December 2024 where the ratings could be tracked down:
Yellowstone (Paramount Network) – 6.5 million viewers *
The Walking Dead Daryl Dixon: The Book of Carol (AMC) – 519,000 viewers
The Old Man (FX) – 401,000 viewers (approximately) *
The Penguin (HBO) – 354,000 viewers
Grotesquerie (FX) – 196,000 viewers (approxmiately)
Power Book II: Ghost (Starz) – 194,000 viewers *
* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
And the following cable network dramas that aired from September through mid-December where the ratings could NOT be tracked down include the following:
Dune: Prophecy, Get Millie Black and Industry (HBO)
Emperor of Ocean Park and From (MGM+)
1923 (Paramount Network)
Hotel Portofino, Moonflower Murder *, Ridley, The Marlow Murder Club and Van der Valk (PBS)
The Agency, Dexter: Original Sin and Lioness (Showtime)
Outlander, Sweetpea and Three Women * (Starz)
* 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. The new drama Tracker has taken over the number one spot on CBS for both TV seasons (2023-2024 and 2024-2025) with the new drama Matlock hot on its heels in second place slightly outpacing the former number one series NCIS. While, the lowest rated shows for the network are Elsbeth and NCIS: Origins.
2. The recently transplanted drama 9-1-1 has taken over as the number one drama on ABC with Will Trent and the new drama High Potential fighting over second place. Meanwhile, the lowest rated dramas on ABC are the recently defunct The Good Doctor and the long-in-the-tooth Grey’s Anatomy.
3. Over on FOX, 9-1-1: Lone Star has moved into the number one slot for the network with the new drama Rescue: Hi-Surf in second place. The lowest rated dramas on FOX are Accused and Alert: Missing Persons Unit.
4. Chicago Med is now the top-rated drama on NBC with Chicago Fire moving into second place while the lowest rated dramas over there are the recently cancelled Quantum Leap and the Canadian transplant (no pun intended) medical drama Transplant.
5. Sadly, the death knell is ringing loudly for the CW, thanks in large part to the demise of the once great DC-based superhero dramas and the acquisition of the network by Nexstar. The highest rated drama is actually the Canadian transplant series Wild Cards with the recently ended Walker a close second. Meanwhile, the lowest rated dramas are the relocated 61st Street and the short-lived drama Joan.
6. Paramount Network takes the prize again with Yellowstone reigning supreme as the highest rated cable drama with the Hallmark Channel’s period piece drama When Calls the Heart, once again, a very, very distant second. The lowest rated cable network drama was The Curse over on Showtime.
My final list covers all of the made-for-TV movies, mini-series and event series that aired during the year on both the major and cable networks where ratings could be tracked down:
Those are as follows:
Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story (Hallmark Channel) – 2.9 million viewers
Three Wiser Men and a Boy (Hallmark Channel) – 2.4 million viewers
Santa Tell Me (Hallmark Channel) – 2.3 million viewers
Happy Howlidays (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Our Holiday Story (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Romance With a Twist (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
The Heiress and the Handyman (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
The Santa Class (Hallmark Channel) – 1.9 million viewers
Falling in Love in Niagara (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
Love on the Right Course (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
Sugarplummed (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
The Real West (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
A Scottish Love Scheme (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Autumn at Apple Hill (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Blind Date Book Club (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Branching Out (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Jingle Bell Run (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
An Easter Bloom (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Following Yonder Star (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Holiday Crashers (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Paging Mr. Darcy (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
The Christmas Quest (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
The Magic of Lemon Drops (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Tis the Season to be Irish (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
A Costa Rican Wedding (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
A Whitewater Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Betty’s Bad Luck in Love (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Falling Like Snowflakes (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Deck the Walls (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Falling Together (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
For Love & Honey (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Leah’s Perfect Gift (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Love & Jane (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
His & Hers (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Holiday Mismatch (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Savoring Paris (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Shifting Gears (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
The Christmas Charade (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
To Have and To Holiday (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Debbie Macomber’s Joyful Mrs. Miracle (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
Haunted Wedding (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
Private Princess Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
A Greek Recipe for Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
An American in Austen (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Christmas on Call (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Everything Puppies (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Legend of the Lost Locket (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Junebug (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Twas the Date Before Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
A Carol for Two (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Christmas with the Singhs (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Hanukkah on the Rocks (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
My Dreams of You (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Rescuing Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Scouting for Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
The 5-Year Christmas Party (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
The Finnish Line (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Trivia at St. Nick’s (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Two Scoops of Italy (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Confessions of a Christmas Letter (Hallmark Channel) – 993,000 viewers
An Ice Palace Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 952,000 viewers
Sense and Sensibility (Hallmark Channel) – 942,000 viewers
A Reason for the Season (Hallmark Mystery) – 920,000 viewers
A Dance in the Snow (Hallmark Mystery) – 846,000 viewers
Trading Up Christmas (Hallmark Mystery) – 832,000 viewers
All I Need for Christmas (Hallmark Mystery) – 808,000 viewers
A Novel Noel (Hallmark Channel) – 794,000 viewers
Christmas Under the Lights (Hallmark Mystery) – 791,000 viewers
True Justice: Family Ties (Hallmark Mystery) – 759,000 viewers
Hannah Swensen Mystery: One Bad Apple (Hallmark Mystery) – 739,000 viewers
Hannah Swensen Mystery: A Sprinkle of Deceit (Hallmark Mystery) – 732,000 viewers
Jazz Ramsey: A K-9 Mystery (Hallmark Mystery) – 710,000 viewers
Curious Caterer Mysteries: Foiled Plans (Hallmark Mystery) – 709,000 viewers
Curious Caterer Mysteries: Forbidden Fruit (Hallmark Mystery) – 683,000 viewers
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters (Hallmark Channel) – 678,000 viewers
Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers (Hallmark Mystery) – 651,000 viewers
TiplineMysteries: Dial 1 for Murder (Hallmark Mystery) – 650,000 viewers
This Time Each Year (Hallmark Mystery) – 641,000 viewers
The Cases of Mystery Lane: Death is Listening (Hallmark Mystery) – 627,000 viewers
My Sweet Austrian Holiday (Hallmark Channel) – 603,000 viewers
Family Practice Mysteries: Coming Home (Hallmark Mystery) – 583,000 viewers
Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement (Hallmark Mystery) – 549,000 viewers
Five Gold Rings (Hallmark Mystery) – 539,000 viewers
BeBe Winans’ We Three Kings (Lifetime) – 448,000 viewers
The Holiday Junkie (Lifetime) – 453,000 viewers
Crimes of Fashion: Killer Clutch (Hallmark Mystery) – 430,000 viewers
Christmas Less Traveled (Great American Family) – 426,000 viewers
Christmas at Plumhill Manor (Lifetime) 399,000 viewers
Once Upon a Christmas Wish (Great American Family) – 388,000 viewers
A Little Women’s Christmas (Great American Family) – 386,000 viewers
A Very Merry Beauty Salon (Lifetime) – 380,000 viewers
A Carpenter Christmas Romance (Lifetime) – 376,000 viewers
Home Sweet Christmas (Great American Family) – 373,000 viewers
Christmas in the Spotlight (Lifetime) – 353,000 viewers
Tail of Christmas (Great American Family) – 340,000 viewers
A Cozy Christmas Quilt (Great American Family) – 330,000 viewers
Make or Bake Christmas (Lifetime) – 277,000 viewers
A Vintage Christmas (Great American Family) – 275,000 viewers
Christmas on the Alpaca Farm (Lifetime) – 275,000 viewers
Christmas Under the Northern Lights (Great American Family) – 270,000 viewers
A Cinderella Christmas Ball (Great American Family) – 260,000 viewers
A Christmas Castle Proposal (Great American Family) – 251,000 viewers
A Royal Christmas Ballet (Great American Family) – 228,000 viewers
How to Fall in Love By Christmas (Lifetime) – 215,000 viewers
Coupled Up for Christmas (Great American Family) – 208,000 viewers
Mistletoe & Matrimony (OWN) – 203,000 viewers
Christmas By Candlelight (Lifetime) – 186,000 viewers
Romance in Hawaii (UPtv) – 166,000 viewers
The Single’s Guidebook (UPtv) – 161,000 viewers
A Bluegrass Christmas (UPtv) – 156,000 viewers
Holiday in Happy Hollow (Lifetime) – 155,000 viewers
Sincerely, Truly Christmas (Lifetime) – 154,000 viewers
Baked With a Kiss (UPtv) – 140,000 viewers
Romance Friction (UPtv) – 136,000 viewers
The Soulmate Search (UPtv) – 136,000 viewers
A Prince and Pauper Christmas (UPtv) – 102,000 viewers
12 Dares of Christmas (UPtv) – 99,000 viewers
Christmas in Rockwell (UPtv) – 93,000 viewers
My Perfect Romance (UPtv) – 90,000 viewers
Love By Design (UPtv) – 51,000 viewers
The ratings for the following made-for-TV movies where the ratings could NOT be tracked down include the following:
24-Karat Christmas (OWN)
A ‘90s Christmas (Hallmark Channel)
A Country Music Christmas (UPtv)
A Match for the Prince (UPtv)
A Novel Christmas (UPtv)
A Royal Makeover (UPtv)
A Taste of Love (Hallmark Channel)
A Very English Christmas (UPtv)
Believe in Christmas (Hallmark Channel)
Christmas in Scotland (Great American Family)
Country Roads Christmas (UPtv)
Descendants: The Rise of Red (Disney)
Discovering Love (UPtv)
Dognapped: Hound for the Holidays (UPtv)
Engaged by Christmas (Lifetime)
Festival of Trees (UPtv)
Get Him Back for Christmas (UPtv)
I Heard the Bells (UPtv)
Just in Time (Great American Family)
Love at the Ranch (Great American Family)
Love on Retreat (UPtv)
Love’s Second Act (Great American Family)
North By North Pole: A Dial S Mystery (UPtv)
Sweetly Salted (UPtv)
The Case of the Christmas Diamond (UPtv)
The Love Advisor (UPtv)
The Search for Secret Santa (UPtv)
The Wedding Rule (UPtv)
Writing a Love Song (UPtv)
What TV dramas or made-for-TV movies have you enjoyed the most (and the least) throughout the year? Please share.
TOMORROW: The Faces of 2024
Rueben's Ramblings 