CBS tops US networks in 2019
Big broadcasters are at the top of the heap, but battling decline and competition.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
CBS has the most total viewers of the US networks according to a report in Variety.
But while streaming services are where viewers are flocking, news & sport remain strong on linear broadcasters.
Meanwhile in the all important 18 – 49 demo, it is NBC that came out on top, despite being down by 26%.
NETWORK / VIEWERS (000)Â / % CHANGE
1. CBS 7,140 -4%
2. NBC 6,330 -19%
3. ABC 5,192 -4%
4. Fox 4,623 +3%
5. Fox News Channel 2,501 +1%
6. ESPN 1,749 -2%
7. MSNBC 1,741 -3%
8. ION 1,344 0%
9. HGTV 1,307 -10%
10. Univision 1,304 -10%
11. Hallmark Channel 1,265 +3%
12. USA Network 1,230 -19%
13. Telemundo 1,201 -1%
14. History 1,193 -4%
15. TLC 1,185 +11%
16. TBS 1,155 -16%
17. Discovery Channel 1,130 -4%
18. TNT 1,122 -14%
19. The CW 1,093 -24%
20. A&E 1,058 +4%
4 Responses
Surprised CNN was at Number 22, I just assumed it would be doing better
I wonder if within 5 years from now, our FTA will only just produce news, sports and special event shows.
Possibly, though your FTA seems to have just doubled down on reality rather than fighting streamers with quality drama of their own as has happened elsewhere. Here in the UK I’d say both free to air (PSB and commercial) and subscription TV are stronger in drama than they’ve ever been.
A bit different in the US where network drama and subscription/cable drama has always been quite different, but certainly the US produces more hours of drama than it ever did.
FTA needs advertising revenue to exist so it’s fair to say that TV studios will follow where the money is, at the moment it’s reality TV that still keeps viewer interest at a reasonable enough level to sell ad slots at peak viewing times, sports and news shows will also have a strong following.
Streaming is starting to buy into sports content too, this will depreciate that once lucrative market for linear broadcasters eventually as well.