“60 Minutes” was the most-watched prime-time program for the fifth time in nine weeks, leading a CBS sweep of the top three spots in the weekly ratings, according to live-plus-same-day figures released by Nielsen Tuesday.
The CBS news magazine averaged 7.596 million viewers, one of four prime-time programs between April 18 and Sunday to top 7 million viewers. “FBI” was second, averaging 7.511 million viewers, and “Young Sheldon” third, averaging 7.256 million.
The NBC drama “Chicago Fire” was the other prime-time program to top 7 million viewers, averaging 7.213 million.
CBS had six of the top eight programs, as it finished first for the ninth time in the nine weeks following the conclusion of NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics, and for the 15th time in the 31-week-old 2021-22 television season — averaging 4.48 million viewers. It also had the most-watched first-season program, “Ghosts,” which was eighth, averaging 6.246 million viewers.
NBC averaged 3.01 million viewers to finish second after finishing third among the broadcast networks for eight consecutive weeks. It had the most- watched program beginning at 10 p.m., “Chicago P.D.,” which averaged 6.076 million viewers, following “Chicago Fire,” ninth for the week.
ABC was third, averaging 2.96 million viewers. Its most-watched programs were the Sunday and Monday editions of “American Idol,” 11th and 13th for the week, averaging 5.884 million and 5.572 million viewers.
An episode of “American Idol” has been ABC’s most-watched program in eight of the nine weeks it has aired this season, with the only exception being the week ABC aired the Oscars.
CBS, ABC and NBC all aired 22 hours of prime-time programming.
Fox averaged 2.02 million viewers for its 15 hours of prime-time programming, topped by the procedural drama “9-1-1,” 20th for the week averaging 5.045 million viewers. “9-1-1” has been Fox’s most-watched program all four times an original episode has aired since March 21.
The CW averaged 380,000 viewers for its 14 hours of programming. Its most-watched program was the documentary on the 1992 tribute concert to the late Queen lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, “Freddie Mercury: The Final Act,” which averaged 891,000 viewers, 126th among broadcast programs. Its overall rank was not available.
The 20 most-watched prime-time programs consisted 13 programs that aired on CBS — 11 scripted series episodes, “60 Minutes” and the alternative series “Survivor”; four NBC scripted programs; ABC’s two “American Idol” episodes; and Fox’s “9-1-1.”
The most-watched cable program was ESPN’s coverage of Saturday’s first- round NBA playoff game between the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets, which averaged 4.624 million viewers, 22nd overall and the most for a prime-time sporting event.
NBA playoff coverage made TNT the most-watched cable network, averaging 2.622 million viewers, one week after finishing second. Fox News Channel averaged 2.251 million to finish second after finishing first three consecutive weeks and 12 of the past 13.
ESPN was third for the second consecutive week, averaging 1.325 million.
The cable top 20 consisted of 13 NBA playoff games — 10 on TNT and three on ESPN; six Fox News Channel political talk shows — five broadcasts of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” and one of “Hannity”; and History’s long-running chronicle of a search for treasure on a Canadian island, “The Curse of Oak Island.”
An episode of the Univision telenovela “Madre” was the most-watched Spanish-language program for the fifth time in eight weeks, with the Thursday episode averaging 1.998 million viewers, 49th among broadcast programs. Its overall rank was not available.
Univision was the most-watched Spanish-language network for the 125th consecutive week and 127th time in 128 weeks, averaging 1.4 million viewers. Telemundo was second, averaging 970,000 viewers, followed by UniMas (470,000), Estrella TV (120,000) and Azteca America (30,000).
ABC’s “World News Tonight with David Muir” was the most-watched nightly newscast for the 124th time in 125 weeks and 176th time in 178 weeks, averaging 7.845 million viewers. “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” was second, averaging 6.675 million.
The “CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell” was third, averaging 4.924 million.
The week’s 10 most-watched prime-time programs were CBS’ “60 Minutes,”; “FBI” and “Young Sheldon”; NBC’s “Chicago Fire”; CBS’ “The Equalizer”; NBC’s “Chicago Med”; CBS’ “NCIS” and “Ghosts”; NBC’s “Chicago P.D.”; and CBS’ “FBI: International.”
