Due to the pandemic, CBS chose to air some shows from other sources for the fall portion of the 2020-21 season. None of them performed very well. During the regular part of the season, the network launched just four new scripted series and only cancelled one of them. How will their new or old programming perform in the ratings for the 2021-22 season? Stay tuned!
CBS shows this season (so far): 48 Hours, 60 Minutes, The Amazing Race, B Positive, Blue Bloods, Bob ♥ Abishola, Bull, CSI: Vegas, The Equalizer, FBI, FBI: International, FBI: Most Wanted, Ghosts, Good Sam, Magnum PI, NCIS, NCIS: Hawai’i, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Neighborhood, SEAL Team, Survivor, SWAT, Tough As Nails, Undercover Boss, United States of Al, and Young Sheldon.
There’s lots of data that network execs look at when deciding whether to renew or cancel a TV series but ratings are typically the biggest piece. These 2021-22 season charts will be updated daily, as new ratings data becomes available.
Note: If you’re not seeing the updated chart, please try reloading the page or view them here and here.
Some notes about these charts:
These figures are updated automatically as new ratings are released. The averages are based on the final national numbers (live plus same day viewing), unless marked with an asterisk (*). For technical reasons, I have to resort them manually. While these numbers don’t include further delayed or streaming viewing, they are a very good indicator of how a show is performing, especially when compared to others on the same channel. There can be other economic factors involved in a show’s fate, but typically the higher-rated series are renewed and the lower-rated ones are cancelled.
Keep in mind that the demo numbers are typically what’s most important to advertisers. Therefore, that’s how the networks measure success. Advertisers pay more for ad time on a show that has a higher demo rating. Older viewers also matter but younger viewers watch less traditional TV and are therefore harder to reach. Delayed viewing matters more and more these days (if commercials are watched) but live viewing is still advertisers’ ideal.
Demo numbers are typically reported using the 10ths decimal place (2.4, for example). In the averages, I’m using an extra decimal for easier ranking. The networks take into account when shows air on Fridays and Saturdays, nights when TV viewership is lower.
What do you think? Which 2021-22 shows are you rooting for? Which one isn’t as big a hit as you thought? Are you hoping any series will get cancelled to make way for something else?