College Softball Comes Out of Left Field: TV By the Numbers
Welcome to our weekly snapshot of TV by the numbers, highlighting the most-watched shows and networks for May 15-21, with insights from Inscape, the currency-grade smart TV ACR data provider and data technology division of Vizio. Data is linear, live TV only and includes all episode types (new and reruns). Rankings are by percent share duration (i.e., time spent watching).
People are still tuning into NBA playoff action, but watch-time was down during a week that saw the Celtics stumble against the Heat while the Lakers succumbed to the Nuggets. In total, games captured 3.35% of watch-time, down from 5.42% previously. In other sports news, college softball slides into the top ten, with NCAA regionals snagging 0.64% of watch-time.
Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:
The 2023 PGA Championship, which saw Brooks Koepka win his third career PGA Championship, takes second place with 2.41% of minutes watched.
SportsCenter, which doubled its watch-time week-over-week, moves from sixth to third place.
After a week off the ranking, American Idol makes it back on to finish out season 21, with the final two episodes capturing 0.55% of watch-time.
Additional week-over-week ranking newcomers include Two and a Half Men (No. 24) and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives (No. 25).
On the network side of things, CBS beats out ABC for first place with 7.86% of minutes watched, driven in part by the 2023 PGA Championship.
Additional insights around the most-watched networks from May 15-21:
Although it slips to second place, ABC increased its watch-time week-over-week, up to 7.30% from 7.08% previously, thanks in part to NBA games and American Idol.
The networks in the No. 3-8 positions hold steady, with NBC and ION as the only two that saw an increase in watch-time week-over-week.
Bravo continues its march up the ranking, moving from No. 25 to No. 23 with a 1.02% viewership share, fueled largely by Vanderpump Rules.
Oxygen was the sole week-over-week ranking newcomer, moving from No. 27 to No. 25 with 0.93% of minutes watched. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered and Snapped were its two top programs.
