In past seasons, I usually started putting out the Scorecard at this point in the season which measured how the current sci fi and fantasy broadcast and cable shows were performing compared to network benchmarks. With fewer genre entries on the linear networks these days, though, that has become less informative. For the current Fall season, only two sci fi / fantasy shows are airing on the Big Four networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX), and The CW typically just renews everything. There is not too much on the cable channels either, and it is getting harder to gauge the renewal and cancellation decisions for those nets. Of course, this is not to say that there are not that many genre shows on televisions, they are just mostly shifting to the streaming channels.
Instead of the Scorecard this season, I have put together a ranking of the broadcast network programming to show where the genre entries stand in comparison to other Prime Time fare. I have compiled the season-to-date ratings and I have calculated the averages by network and by category (drama, comedy, reality/competition, etc.). Below are the Top 30 shows, which includes the two genre entries, along with the comparison of their perfomance vs. network averages. Note that the ratings numbers are based on same-day viewing for the 18-49 demographic. The networks still insist that they look at the bigger picture and factor in delayed/digital viewing, but if that was the case Manifest would have most likely been renewed last season. And these numbers are for non-repeat, non-special, and non-sports programming.
NBC’s sci fi drama La Brea got off to a good start this season, delivering the highest ratings for a scripted drama for its first two Tuesday airings. Its numbers slipped some by its third airing, but season-to-date it ranks at Number 17 among broadcast network shows. It is performing slightly better than other dramas on NBC (0.04% above the average) and notably better than the network’s overall mean (0.11% above). These Lost-like serialized dramas tend to experience ratings attrition throughout the year, so expect this one to slip. But it is looking good for now.
The supernatural comedy Ghosts got off to a good start for CBS, and then saw its numbers improve with its second episode. It is currently at the Number 23 slot among network programming. It is performing slightly better than other comedies on the network (0.04% above the average and just a bit above par for the network in general (0.02% above the mean). Comedies typically do not have to be among the top-ranked network shows to get renewed, just not in the bottom rungs. Based on that, this show is off to a good start.
Below are the Top 30 broadcast network shows for non-repeat, non-special, and non-sports programming based on ratings results through October 17th. Once The CW shows have more airings, I will be doing a separate ranking for them because they typically have lower viewership numbers and rarely rank in the Top 30. Ratings Source: Spoiler TV
| Rank | Program | Network | Category | StD Rtg | StD Tot Wvrs | Network Category Perfomance | Network Performance |
| 1 | 60 Minutes | CBS | News | 1.22 | 9.250 | 0.00% ↑ | 1.11% ↑ |
| 2 | The Masked Singer | FOX | Reality/Competition | 1.00 | 4.570 | 0.47% ↑ | 0.71% ↑ |
| 3 | Survivor | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.98 | 5.900 | 0.61% ↑ | 0.70% ↑ |
| 4 | The Voice | NBC | Reality/Competition | 0.96 | 7.000 | 0.65% ↑ | 0.56% ↑ |
| 5 | The Simpsons | FOX | Comedy | 0.89 | 2.600 | 0.42% ↑ | 0.52% ↑ |
| 6 | Chicago Fire | NBC | Drama | 0.84 | 7.280 | 0.29% ↑ | 0.37% ↑ |
| 7 | 911 | FOX | Drama | 0.83 | 5.260 | 0.76% ↑ | 0.42% ↑ |
| 8 | Bachelor in Paradise | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.82 | 3.000 | 0.69% ↑ | 0.79% ↑ |
| 9 | Big Brother | CBS | Reality/Competition | 0.79 | 3.370 | 0.30% ↑ | 0.37% ↑ |
| 10 | Chicago Med | NBC | Drama | 0.78 | 6.840 | 0.20% ↑ | 0.27% ↑ |
| 11 | Chicago PD | NBC | Drama | 0.77 | 6.140 | 0.18% ↑ | 0.25% ↑ |
| 12 | The Equalizer | CBS | Drama | 0.76 | 7.480 | 0.45% ↑ | 0.32% ↑ |
| 13 | Dancing With The Stars | ABC | Reality/Competition | 0.72 | 4.700 | 0.48% ↑ | 0.58% ↑ |
| 14 | Law and Order: SVU | NBC | Drama | 0.71 | 4.470 | 0.09% ↑ | 0.16% ↑ |
| 15 | FBI | CBS | Drama | 0.70 | 7.000 | 0.34% ↑ | 0.21% ↑ |
| 16 | Young Sheldon | CBS | Comedy | 0.68 | 6.830 | 0.20% ↑ | 0.18% ↑ |
| 17 | La Brea | NBC | Drama | 0.68 | 5.520 | 0.04% ↑ | 0.11% ↑ |
| 18 | NCIS | CBS | Drama | 0.64 | 7.950 | 0.22% ↑ | 0.11% ↑ |
| 19 | The Neighborhood | CBS | Comedy | 0.63 | 5.360 | 0.11% ↑ | 0.09% ↑ |
| 20 | Grey’s Anatomy | ABC | Drama | 0.63 | 4.050 | 0.49% ↑ | 0.38% ↑ |
| 21 | FBI: Most Wanted | CBS | Drama | 0.62 | 5.980 | 0.18% ↑ | 0.07% ↑ |
| 22 | NCIS: Los Angeles | CBS | Drama | 0.61 | 5.730 | 0.16% ↑ | 0.06% ↑ |
| 23 | Ghosts | CBS | Comedy | 0.59 | 5.390 | 0.04% ↑ | 0.02% ↑ |
| 24 | The Goldbergs | ABC | Comedy | 0.59 | 3.280 | 0.14% ↑ | 0.29% ↑ |
| 25 | FBI: International | CBS | Drama | 0.57 | 5.940 | 0.09% ↑ | -0.01% ↓ |
| 26 | Station 19 | ABC | Drama | 0.57 | 4.290 | 0.35% ↑ | 0.25% ↑ |
| 27 | Law and Order: OC | NBC | Drama | 0.57 | 3.560 | -0.13% ↓ | -0.07% ↓ |
| 28 | The Conners | ABC | Comedy | 0.56 | 3.440 | 0.09% ↑ | 0.23% ↑ |
| 29 | WWE Friday Night SmackDown | FOX | Reality/Competition | 0.56 | 2.180 | -0.18% ↓ | -0.04% ↓ |
| 30 | Bob Hearts Abishola | CBS | Comedy | 0.55 | 5.290 | -0.03% ↓ | -0.05% ↓ |
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