Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
TV Ratings Illustrate Hunger for News on Coronavirus Threat
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 4 years ago on
March 18, 2020

Share

NEW YORK — Reflecting a hunger for information about the coronavirus outbreak, last Thursday’s episode of ABC’s “World News Tonight” had more viewers than anything that aired in television’s prime time last week.

Television networks will be watching closely in the next few weeks to see how viewership is increased by all of the people left housebound by the virus. It’s usually the opposite as spring approaches and improving weather send people outdoors and away from their TVs.
That edition of the David Muir-anchored broadcast reached 10.8 million viewers, slightly more than an original episode of “NCIS,” the Nielsen company said. Collectively, the ABC, NBC and CBS evening newscasts on Thursday — which all air prior to the 8 p.m. start of television’s traditional prime time — reached 26.3 million people.
CBS’ “60 Minutes,” which featured a Scott Pelley report on how New Rochelle, N.Y., is dealing with its hot spot of infected patients, and the CNN debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders also finished in Nielsen’s top five last week.
Television networks will be watching closely in the next few weeks to see how viewership is increased by all of the people left housebound by the virus. It’s usually the opposite as spring approaches and improving weather send people outdoors and away from their TVs.
CBS was the week’s most popular network, averaging 6.2 million viewers in prime time. ABC was second with 5.2 million, NBC had 3.7 million, Fox had 3 million, Univision had 1.4 million, ION Television had 1.3 million, Telemundo had 1.1 million and the CW had 700,000.
The three news networks dominated cable viewership last week. Fox News Channel averaged 3.54 million viewers in prime time, CNN had 2.85 million, MSNBC had 2.3 million, TBS had 1.13 million and HGTV had 1.12 million.
“World News Tonight” averaged 9.9 million viewers for the week. NBC’s “Nightly News” was second among the evening news programs with 8.5 million viewers and CBS had 6.1 million.

The Week’s 20 Most Popular Programs

For the week of March 9-15, the week’s 20 most popular programs, their networks and viewership:
1. “NCIS,” CBS, 10.76 million.
2. “60 Minutes,” CBS, 10.44 million.
3. Democratic Presidential Debate, CNN, 9.9 million.
4. “Young Sheldon,” CBS, 8.89 million.
5. “The Voice” (Monday), NBC, 8.74 million.
6. “The Bachelor,” (Tuesday, 8 p.m.), ABC, 8.55 million.
7. “FBI,” CBS, 8.31 million.
8. “Blue Bloods,” CBS, 8.14 million.
9. “The Bachelor” (Monday, 8 p.m.), ABC, 7.75 million.
10. “American Idol,” ABC, 7.47 million.
11. “The Masked Singer,” Fox, 7.25 million.
12. “Hawaii Five-0,” CBS, 7.11 million.
13. “Survivor,” CBS, 6.92 million.
14. “Station 19,” ABC, 6.65 million.
15. President Trump Address, CBS, 6.57 million.
16. “Hannity” (Wednesday), Fox News, 6.44 million.
17. “Mom,” CBS, 6.442 million.
18. “NCIS: New Orleans,” CBS, 6.345 million.
19. “Bull,” CBS, 6.32 million.
20. “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC, 6.28 million.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

No Police Charges for Taylor Swift’s Dad Over Paparazzi Incident in Sydney

DON'T MISS

Feds Search Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Properties in Sex Trafficking Probe: AP Sources

DON'T MISS

Easy Time-Saving Tips for Classic Easter Dishes

DON'T MISS

Did You Fall for These Well-Known April Fools’ Day Jokes?

DON'T MISS

Country Star Toby Keith Died Before Being Told He Was Elected to Hall of Fame

DON'T MISS

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

DON'T MISS

Beyoncé’s Country Album Will Be Called ‘Act II: Cowboy Carter’

DON'T MISS

Eric Carmen, the Raspberries Frontman and ‘All by Myself’ and ‘Hungry Eyes’ Singer, Dies at 74

DON'T MISS

Oscar Moments: Talk of War & Peace, a Coronation for Nolan, and Ken-Demonium for Gosling

DON'T MISS

Dirt-Cheap Gardening Secrets

No data was found

Facebook News Tab Will Soon Be Unavailable as Meta Scales Back News and Political Content

9 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rises to More Records to Close Out Its Latest Winning Month

9 hours ago

A Fresno County First: Kerman Council Passes Amended Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

9 hours ago

UN Top Court Orders Israel to Open More Land Crossings for Aid into Gaza

9 hours ago

How Involved Is Southern California Consulting Firm in FUSD Executive Dealings?

10 hours ago

Biden’s Fundraiser with Obama and Clinton Nets a Record $25 Million, His Campaign Says

10 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Self-Protection Racket Is Hurting Our Kids

10 hours ago

Rockin’ Out or Laughing, the Valley Has Its Pick of Weekend Events

11 hours ago

Ex-Correctional Officer at Women’s Prison in California Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Inmates

13 hours ago

Caitlin Clark and Iowa Draw Nearly 5 Million Viewers for Second-Round NCAA Win

14 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Riverside Golf Course Introduces Military Veterans to the Game

PGA HOPE, now underway at Fresno’s Riverside Golf Course, is designed to introduce golf to veterans and active duty military members t...

7 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Fresno's Riverside Golf Course
7 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Riverside Golf Course Introduces Military Veterans to the Game

8 hours ago

Cronenworth’s Big Hit Helps Lift the Padres to a 6-4 Win Over Melvin’s Giants

9 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani Reaches 3 Times in Home Debut as the Dodgers Rout the Cardinals 7-1

9 hours ago

Facebook News Tab Will Soon Be Unavailable as Meta Scales Back News and Political Content

9 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rises to More Records to Close Out Its Latest Winning Month

9 hours ago

A Fresno County First: Kerman Council Passes Amended Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

9 hours ago

UN Top Court Orders Israel to Open More Land Crossings for Aid into Gaza

10 hours ago

How Involved Is Southern California Consulting Firm in FUSD Executive Dealings?

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend