The television landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as streaming viewership becomes increasingly crucial to a show’s success. Thanks to Nielsen’s new Streaming Content Ratings, which provide comprehensive multi-platform data, broadcast networks are gaining a clearer picture of how their shows perform across live, time-shifted, on-demand, and streaming platforms.
Among the early winners in this new era is ABC’s freshman comedy “High Potential.” While the show ranked a respectable 12th among adults 18-49 based on Nielsen’s live+7 ratings, its standing skyrockets to number one when seven days of streaming viewership on Hulu (including Hulu on Disney+) are factored in.
As of November 21st, “High Potential” averaged a 0.57 rating in the 18-49 demographic according to live+7 data. Though, streaming added a notable 1.76 rating, boosting the Kaitlin Olson-led series by a remarkable 309% to a 2.33 rating. This impressive figure would have been considered exceptional just a decade ago.
“Live-plus-same-day numbers do not remotely portray the success of scripted programming. We’re seeing enormous traction in playback, both on the DVR and certainly on Hulu and our direct-to-consumer platforms,” said Ari Goldman, senior VP of content strategy and scheduling at ABC, in an October interview with Variety.
ABC isn’t alone in experiencing this surge. Practically every primetime entertainment series benefits from a considerable boost when streaming numbers are included. Fox’s animated sitcom “Bob’s Burgers” exemplifies this trend, jumping from 43rd place in live+7 (0.36 18-49 rating) to 10th place in cross-platform (1.23 18-49 rating) thanks to its popularity on Hulu.
In total viewers, CBS’s “Tracker” stands out as a rare exception. It already holds the top spot in live+7 day viewing and maintains its lead when streaming is included, increasing from 11.4 million to 14.4 million viewers.
The fall television season is proving that streaming is no longer just a supplement to conventional viewing habits – it’s a game-changer. Several shows are seeing significant boosts in viewership thanks to streaming platforms, shaking up the ratings landscape.
CBS’s “Matlock” reboot is a prime example. While it landed at number two in live+7 ratings with 10.2 million viewers, streaming catapulted it to the number two spot overall with a total of 13.5 million viewers. This impressive 3.3 million viewer increase from streaming makes “matlock” the second most-streamed network primetime entertainment series,trailing only ABC’s “High Potential.”
“high Potential” itself saw a remarkable surge, jumping from 6.5 million viewers in live+7 to 10.8 million in cross-platform ratings,thanks to an additional 4.3 million viewers tuning in via streaming. This places it at number three overall.
CBS’s “Ghosts” is also reaping the benefits of streaming,climbing to the number four spot with 10.2 million viewers when cross-platform numbers are factored in, up from 7.6 million in live+7.
Looking solely at streaming numbers, the top contenders for the fall season are:
- “High Potential” (ABC) – 4.300 million viewers
- “Matlock” (CBS) – 3.259 million viewers
- “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) – 2.992 million viewers
- “Tracker” (CBS) – 2.953 million viewers
- “9-1-1” (ABC) – 2.800 million viewers
- “Ghosts” (CBS) – 2.633 million viewers
- “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” (CBS) – 2.063 million viewers
- “Elsbeth” (CBS) – 1.821 million viewers
- “Fire Country” (CBS) – 1.796 million viewers
- “Dr. Odyssey” (ABC) – 1.769 million viewers
In the coveted 18-49 demographic, ABC’s “High Potential,” “Abbott Elementary,” and “9-1-1” all saw their ratings jump by more than a full point thanks to streaming.
- “High Potential” (ABC) – 1.76 rating
- “Abbott Elementary” (ABC) – 1.6 rating
- “9-1-1” (ABC) – 1.19 rating
- “Ghosts” (CBS) – 0.91 rating
- “Bob’s Burgers” (Fox) – 0.87 rating
- “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) – 0.81 rating
- “Tracker” (CBS) - 0.71 rating
- “Matlock” (CBS) – 0.69 rating
- “Dr. Odyssey” (ABC) – 0.65 rating
- “9-1-1 Lone Star” (Fox) – 0.61 rating
these figures paint a clear picture: streaming is reshaping the television landscape, giving viewers more flexibility and boosting the reach of popular shows. As the fall season progresses, it will be captivating to see how these trends continue to evolve.
CBS dominated primetime television viewership last week,securing the top five spots in total viewers,according to preliminary Nielsen ratings. The network’s lineup of familiar favorites proved to be a ratings juggernaut, drawing in millions of viewers across various demographics.
A Week of primetime Dominance for CBS
Leading the pack was the new drama “Tracker,” which captivated 14.368 million viewers. Close behind was the reboot of the classic legal drama “Matlock,” attracting 13.503 million viewers. Rounding out the top five were “High Potential” (ABC) with 10.846 million viewers, “Ghosts” (CBS) with 10.228 million,and “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” (CBS) with 10.108 million.
CBS’s success extended beyond total viewership, with several of its shows also performing well in the coveted 18-49 age demographic. “High Potential” led the pack in this category with a 2.33 rating, followed by ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” with a 2.15 rating. ”9-1-1″ (ABC) secured the third spot with a 1.85 rating.
“Ghosts” (CBS) continued its strong performance with a 1.6 rating, while “tracker” (CBS) followed closely behind with a 1.55 rating. “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC) and “Survivor” (CBS) also made appearances in the top ten, demonstrating the enduring appeal of these long-running series.
“This is still a work in progress, of course: Such as, Nielsen is missing measurement for the second episode of “Abbott Elementary,” which aired Oct. 16, so that data isn’t included. But it’s a step closer to giving networks and studios a look at how their shows are truly performing across the board — and how they stack up against the competition.”
## The Streaming Revolution: An Expert Interview
**World Today News:**
The television landscape is in a state of flux as streaming viewership takes center stage. Thanks to Nielsen’s new Streaming Content ratings, we have a clearer picture of how shows perform across all platforms. Joining us today is [Expert name], a leading media analyst, to discuss this shift and its impact on the TV industry.
**Welcome, [Expert Name]. Thanks for joining us.**
**Expert Name:** Thanks for having me.
**World Today News:** Let’s start with the basics. How significant is this change in terms of viewer behavior?
**Expert Name:** It’s monumental. For years,live viewership was the gold standard,but now viewers are consuming content on their own terms,anytime,anywhere. Streaming platforms have fundamentally changed how we watch television.
**World Today News:** We’ve seen examples of shows, like ABC’s “High Potential,” jumping dramatically in the ratings when streaming numbers are included. Can you elaborate on this phenomenon?
**Expert Name:** Absolutely.”High Potential” is a great example of a show that may not have seemed like a hit based solely on live viewership but gets a huge boost when you factor in streaming on Hulu. This highlights the disconnect between conventional metrics and actual audience reach.
**World Today News:** Are there other notable examples of series experiencing this “streaming surge”?
**Expert Name:** Definitely. Fox’s “Bob’s Burgers” is another example. It climbed significantly in the rankings when streaming was factored in, demonstrating the power of on-demand viewing. “Matlock” on CBS and “The Ghosts” are also reaping the benefits of audiences catching up on episodes via streaming.
**World Today news:** It seems like network television is starting to embrace this shift.Are we seeing any changes in strategy from broadcasters?
**Expert Name:** Absolutely. Networks are now heavily emphasizing their streaming partnerships. They’re promoting their shows across multiple platforms and using data to better understand viewer behavior. This allows them to tailor their content and marketing strategies accordingly.
**World Today News:** what does the future hold for traditional television in a streaming-dominated world?
**Expert Name:**
It’s not about one replacing the other. instead, we’re seeing a convergence. Networks are integrating streaming into their overall strategies, while streaming platforms are also producing high-quality content that appeals to a broad audience. Ultimately, viewers will continue to have more choices and greater control over their television experience.
**World Today News:** Fascinating insights, [Expert Name]. thank you for shedding light on this vital change in the television industry.
**Expert Name:** My pleasure.
