U.S. TV Season: Most Watched Formats of 2016-2017

U.S. format market has a new leader - The Bachelor. Final ratings for the 2016-2017 season.
The Bachelor

Main U.S. television season is over and there's a new leader of unscripted formats. 'The Bachelor' became nr. 1 show of the 2016-2017 season with 3.1 rating in the commercial demo according to Nielsen, sligthly growing over previous season and achieving higher ratings than the long time leader 'The Voice'. NBC's singing competition declined over previous season, however still achieves ratings much higher than channel's average.

Below are the final numbers for the 2016-2017 season. Shows of broadcast channels are included:

Ratings of prime time unscripted formats in 2016-2017 season

(September 2016-May 2017. Target group 18-49. All data are “most current,” meaning inclusion of time shifted viewing up to 7 days if available. Source: The Nielsen Company)

1.0

#ShowChannelTimeslotFormat seller2016-2017 averageShow v. channel's averageShow v. 2015-2016 season
1.The BachelorABCMon 8PMWarner Bros.3.1+1.5+0.1
2.The VoiceNBCMon 8PMTalpa3.0+1.0-0.5
3.The Voice (Tuesdays)NBCTue VARTalpa2.8+0.8-0.3
4.SurvivorCBSWed 8PMCastaway Television2.5+0.7-0.3
5.Dancing with the StarsABCMon 8PMBBC Worldwide2.10.5-0.1
6.HuntedCBSWed, Sun VAREndemol Shine2.0+0.2N/A
7.Little Big ShotsNBCSun 8PMWarner Bros.1.8-0.2-0.5
8.The WallNBCMon, Tue VAREndemol Shine1.6-0.4N/A
9.Hell's KitchenFOXThu, Fri 8PMITV Studios1.5-0.3-0.2
10.Shark TankABCFri 9PMSony Pictures Television1.5-0.1-0.4
11.MasterChef JuniorFoxThu VAREndemol Shine1.4-0.4-0.4
12.The Amazing RaceCBSThu VARDisney Media Distribution1.4-0.4-0.3
13.The ApprenticeNBCMon VARFremantleMedia1.3-0.7N/A
14.The Great American Baking ShowABCThu 9PMBBC Worldwide1.2-0.4+0.1
15.Undercover BossCBSWed, Fri 8PMAll3media International1.1-0.7-0.2
16.Match GameABCWed, Sun VARFremantleMedia1.1-0.5N/A
17.To Tell the TruthABCSun 9PMFremantleMedia-0.6N/A 
18.My Kitchen RulesFoxThu 9:01 PMEndemol Shine0.9-0.9N/A
19.First DatesNBCFri 8PMWarner Bros.0.9-1.1N/A
20.Saturday Night Live - PrimeNBCSat VARNBCUniversal0.8-1.20.0
21.The Toy BoxABCFri 8PMElectus0.7-0.9N/A
22.Kicking & ScreamingFoxThu VARLionsgate0.7-1.1N/A

Other key facts:

  • 'Survivor' is a steady performer, with just a decent decrease over previous season and still overperforming channel's average. The same for 'Dancing with the Stars'
  • 'Hunted' is the best new format of the season. 'The Wall' entered U.S. market well too and was renewed for a new season
  • 'The New Celebrity Apprentice' returned with a new host and lost viewers over previous season in 2015. Full analysis here
  • 'Saturday Night Live' has seen a succesuful season and broke some records, as The Hollywood Reporter says (ratings out of prime-time aren't included in the chart above). The format was also sold to France in 2017 with M6 making its own version inspired by U.S. original
  • New shows with not enough episodes yet were not included. However, 'Beat Shazam' and 'Love Connection' were mediocre with season premieres and 'You the Jury' was very low
  • New formats 'The Toy Box' and 'Kicking & Screaming' underperformed and weren't renewed yet. 'The Toy Box' aired on challenging and usually low-rated Friday night

Some of the scripted formats in 2016-2017 season

(target group 18-49. All data are “most current,” meaning inclusion of time shifted viewing up to 7 days if available. Source: The Nielsen Company)

ShowChannelTimeslotFormat seller2016-2017 averageShow v. channel's averageShow v. 2015-2016 season
Grey's AnatomyABCThursday 8PMDisney Media Distribution3.4+1.8-0.3
2 Broke GirlsCBSMonday VARWarner Bros.1.80.0-0.5
Jane The VirginThe CWMonday VARElectus0.70.00.0
No TomorrowThe CWTuesday VARGrupo Globo0.3-0.4N/A

Source of all data: Nielsen

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