Welcome to our weekly snapshot of TV by the numbers, highlighting the most-watched shows and networks for Mar. 20-26, 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).

Although the 2023 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament remains the No. 1 program week-over-week, it saw a decline in watch-time, down to 4.70% of minutes watched from the previous week’s 9.88%. Meanwhile, the women’s tournament jumped into third place from No. 5 previously, increasing its share of watch-time to 1.11% from 0.79%. 

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• PGA Tour Golf had a notable week-over-week increase in watch-time — capturing 1.40% compared to 0.68% previously — and moves into second place from eighth. 

• The First 48 was another program with a noticeable week-over-week ranking increase, rising from No. 23 to No. 17, with reruns plus a new episode accounting for 0.48% of watch-time for the week.  

• Week-over-week ranking newcomers include The Golden Girls (No. 24) and CNN Newsroom (No. 25). 

• Both NBA games and the 2023 World Baseball Classic saw week-over-week decreases: NBA slips to No. 10 from No. 6, with 0.63% of minutes watched, while the World Baseball Classic slides to No. 12 (down from third place previously), with 0.60% of watch-time. 

Looking at the network ranking, CBS is holding steady in first place, although it saw a slight decrease in watch-time, down to 8.17% from 9.73% the previous week. The NCAA Men’s Tournament remains a titan for the network’s viewership.

Additional insights around the most-watched networks from Mar. 20-26:

• With 6.59% of watch-time, NBC moves into second place from third previously, helped along by PGA Tour Golf, Today and The Voice. 

• With an absence of college basketball on the network, TNT drops off the top 25 ranking, allowing ION, HGTV, MSNBC and Hallmark Channel to each move up one slot. 

• CNN, meanwhile, moves into No. 12 from No. 18 previously with 1.47% of watch-time, propelled partially by CNN Newsroom.

• Thanks in part to a Yellowstone marathon on Sunday, Paramount Network enters the ranking at No. 24, with 1.00% of minutes watched. Discovery Channel was another week-over-week ranking newcomer, moving up to No. 22 from No. 26 previously.