That’s the final number crunch by the Television Bureau of Advertising (TVB) for the recently completed 2007-2008 television season. Using Nielsen data for both broadcast and cable/satellite networks, TVB calculated that broadcast networks had 488 of the season’s top 500 programs in Household ratings, to a dozen for cable/satellite nets. The latter did slightly better in the 18-49 demo, with 16 in the top 500 to broadcast networks’ 484.
"These findings demonstrate once again the enormous appeal of broadcast programs. Broadcasters continue to connect with the American audience in ways that no other medium can duplicate," declared TVB President Chris Rohrs.
Top 100 Programs on Broadcast and Subscription TV
Based on Primetime Adult 18-49 Ratings
Week ending May 18th, 2008
Week 34 of the 2007-2008 Broadcast Season
| RANK | PROGRAMS | NETWORK | (START) DATE |
# TLCST |
P18-49 Live+SD US AA% |
| 1 | AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY | FOX | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 9.2 |
| 2 | AMERICAN IDOL-TUESDAY | FOX | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 9.0 |
| 3 | DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES | ABC | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 6.2 |
| 4 | GREY’S ANATOMY-THU 9PM | ABC | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 6.1 |
| 5 | HOUSE-MON 9P | FOX | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 5.9 |
| 6 | HELL’S KITCHEN | FOX | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 5.1 |
| 7 | TWO AND A HALF MEN | CBS | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 5.1 |
| 8 | LOST | ABC | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 4.9 |
| 9 | CSI | CBS | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 4.9 |
| 10 | DANCING WITH THE STARS | ABC | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 4.2 |
| 11 | OFFICE | NBC | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 4.2 |
| 12 | DANCING W/STARS RESULTS | ABC | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 4.1 |
| 13 | RULES OF ENGAGEMENT | CBS | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 4.1 |
| 14 | CSI: MIAMI | CBS | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 4.1 |
| 15 | EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. | ABC | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 3.9 |
| 16 | LAW AND ORDER:SVU | NBC | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 3.8 |
| 17 | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | CBS | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 3.8 |
| 18 | WITHOUT A TRACE | CBS | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 3.6 |
| 19 | BONES-MON 8P | FOX | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 20 | E.R. | NBC | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 3.3 |
| 21 | BACHELOR: LONDON CALLING | ABC | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 3.2 |
| 22 | CSI: NY | CBS | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 3.2 |
| 23 | SAMANTHA WHO? | ABC | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 3.2 |
| 24 | CRIMINAL MINDS | CBS | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 3.1 |
| 25 | MY NAME IS EARL | NBC | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 26 | NCIS | CBS | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 27 | FAMILY GUY | FOX | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 28 | MEDIUM | NBC | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 3.0 |
| 29 | ACM AWARDS(S)-05/18/2008 | CBS | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 2.9 |
| 30 | SIMPSONS | FOX | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 2.9 |
| 31 | BIG BANG THEORY, THE | CBS | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 2.9 |
| 32 | AMERICAN DAD | FOX | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
| 33 | UGLY BETTY | ABC | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 2.7 |
| 34 | EXTREME MAKEOVER:HM ED-7P | ABC | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 2.6 |
| 35 | LAW AND ORDER | NBC | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 2.6 |
| 36 | KING OF THE HILL | FOX | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 2.6 |
| 37 | BACK TO YOU | FOX | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 38 | WIFE SWAP | ABC | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 2.5 |
| 39 | SUPERNANNY | ABC | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 2.4 |
| 40 | AL DIABLO CON GUAPOS THU | UNI | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 2.3 |
| 41 | AMERICA’S TOP MODEL-4 | CW | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 2.3 |
| 42 | NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | 05/12/2008 | 4 | 2.3 |
| 43 | NUMB3RS | CBS | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 2.3 |
| 44 | DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS | FOX | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 2.3 |
| 45 | BOSTON LEGAL | ABC | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 2.3 |
| 46 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE MON | UNI | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 47 | SMARTER THAN 5TH GRADER | FOX | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 48 | TIL DEATH | FOX | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 49 | AL DIABLO CON GUAPOS MON | UNI | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 50 | CRIMINAL MINDS TUESDAY SP(S)-05/13/2008 | CBS | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 2.2 |
| 51 | AQUI Y AHORA TUE | UNI | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
| 52 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE TUE | UNI | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
| 53 | AL DIABLO CON GUAPOS TUE | UNI | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
| 54 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE WED | UNI | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 2.1 |
| 55 | SHARK | CBS | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 56 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE THU | UNI | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 57 | GHOST WHISPERER | CBS | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 58 | WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB | ABC | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 2.0 |
| 59 | NBA PLAYOFFS-CONF SEMIS L | ESPN | 05/15/2008 | 2 | 1.9 |
| 60 | AMERICAN GLADIATORS | NBC | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 61 | LAW AND ORDER:SVU 9P | NBC | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 62 | NUESTRA BELLEZA FRI | UNI | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 63 | AL DIABLO CON GUAPOS WED | UNI | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 64 | DEAL OR NO DEAL-WED | NBC | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 65 | FUEGO EN LA SANGRE FRI | UNI | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 66 | 20/20-FRI | ABC | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 1.9 |
| 67 | MOONLIGHT | CBS | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 68 | COPS 2 | FOX | 05/17/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 68 | SIMPSONS-SUN 7:30P | FOX | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 1.8 |
| 70 | CSI – 8PM SPECIAL(S)-05/15/2008 | CBS | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 71 | SMALLVILLE | CW | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 72 | WWE ENTERTAINMENT | USA | 05/12/2008 | 2 | 1.7 |
| 73 | AMER FUNN HOME VIDEOS-FRI | ABC | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 74 | AMW: AMERICA FIGHTS BACK | FOX | 05/17/2008 | 1 | 1.7 |
| 75 | AL DIABLO CON GUAPOS FRI | UNI | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 76 | OFFICE 9:30 5/18(S)-05/18/2008 | NBC | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 77 | 60 MINUTES | CBS | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 78 | LAW AND ORDER:SVU-SUN | NBC | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 1.6 |
| 79 | ACCORDING TO JIM-TU 8:30P | ABC | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 1.5 |
| 80 | COPS | FOX | 05/17/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 81 | PRICE IS RIGHT PRIMETIME | CBS | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 82 | DATELINE FRI | NBC | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 83 | DON FRANCISCO PRESENTA WE | UNI | 05/14/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 84 | 48 HOURS MYSTERY | CBS | 05/17/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 85 | ABC SAT MOVIE OF THE WEEK | ABC | 05/17/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 86 | OFFICE 9P 5/18(S)-05/18/2008 | NBC | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 1.4 |
| 87 | MOST OUTRG MOMTS-TUE8:30P | NBC | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 88 | CRISTINA MON | UNI | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 89 | ACCORDING TO JIM-TU 8PM | ABC | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 1.3 |
| 90 | OFFICE 8:30 5/18(S)-05/18/2008 | NBC | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 91 | FOX MOVIE-FRIDAY | FOX | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 92 | ONE TREE HILL-MON | CW | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 93 | FRIDAY NIGHT SMACKDOWN | CW | 05/16/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 94 | GOSSIP GIRL-MON | CW | 05/12/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 95 | SUPERNATURAL | CW | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 96 | KING OF THE HILL-SUN 7P | FOX | 05/18/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 97 | LAW AND ORDER-SAT | NBC | 05/17/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 98 | MOST OUTRAGEOUS MOMENTS | NBC | 05/13/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 99 | HOUSE | USA | 05/17/2008 | 3 | 1.2 |
| 100 | AMAS CASA DESESPERADS THU | UNI | 05/15/2008 | 1 | 1.2 |
Source: 5/12 – 5/18/08 Nielsen Galaxy Explorer estimates.
Ranked by average audience % (ratings); in the event of a tie, impressions (000’s) are used as a tiebreaker.
Ad-Supported Subscription television only.
Programming under 25 minutes excluded.
