Below is a snapshot of TV by the numbers for the week of January 9-15, highlighting the most-watched shows and networks using glass-level data from Inscape, and network and show TV ad impressions insights via iSpot.tv.

Most-Watched Shows and Networks

Via Inscape, the currency-grade smart TV ACR data provider and data technology division of Vizio with insights from a panel of more than 20 million opted-in TVs. 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).

The NFL continues to reign supreme for the most-watched program on TV, with games during the first week of playoffs capturing 8.31% of all minutes watched (down from about 10% the previous week).

Some additional insights about the top programming on TV:

• The College Football Playoff national championship takes second place on the ranking, capturing 1.68% of watch-time, while men’s college basketball lands in third place, down from No. 2 previously.
• NBA games increased their share of watch-time week-over-week, accounting for 1% this time around, up from 0.72% previously.
• Several news programs move up the ranking from their previous positions, including Fox & Friends (from No. 14 to No. 10), America’s Newsroom (from No. 23 to No. 12), CBS Mornings (from No. 17 to No. 16) and America Reports (from No. 25 to No. 17).
• Week-over-week ranking newcomers include The First 48, which moves from No. 41 to No. 20 thanks in part to a marathon on A&E, NFL on Fox Postgame (No. 21) and ABC World News Tonight With David Muir (No. 22).

Thanks in part to NFL games, news programming and the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards telecast, NBC takes first place in our network ranking with 9.12% of minutes watched, up from 7.45% the previous week. 

Additional insights around the most-watched networks from January 9-15:

• Fox moves up a tick to third place from No. 4 previously, fueled by NFL games and post-game coverage.
• TNT has the biggest jump up the ranking, going from No. 24 to No. 16, capturing 1.18% of watch-time. NBA games accounted for a third of the minutes watched on the network.
• While TV Land and History maintain their chart positions week-over-week, both had an increase in watch-time: TV Land snagged 1.06% of minutes watched, up from 1.03% previously, while History had 1.0% (up from 0.98%).
• Week-over-week ranking newcomers include Comedy Central (No. 23 with 0.86% of minutes watched), Discovery Channel (No. 24, 0.85%) and A&E (No. 25, 0.84%).

Top Shows and Networks by TV Ad Impressions

Via iSpot.tv, the real-time TV measurement company. Rankings are by share of TV ad impressions, for new episodes only.

The NFL was yards ahead of other programming on television when it came to share of TV ad impressions last week, although its 17.39% share was a slight decrease from the previous week’s 19.53%. College football (specifically the CFP national championship game) takes second place with a 4.02% impressions share.

More insights about the top programs by share of TV ad impressions:

• College basketball remains in third place week-over-week with a 2.09% share of impressions, while NBA jumps into fourth place with 1.82% (up from 1.25% the previous week).
• The 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards telecast lands at No. 22 on the ranking, capturing a 0.69% impressions share of voice.
• Several news and daytime talk programs have week-over-week rankings increases, including Fox & Friends (up to No. 10 from No. 13 previously), The View (No. 15 from No. 18), America’s Newsroom (No. 18 from No. 22) and Today With Hoda & Jenna (No. 19 from No. 20).
• Week-over-week chart newcomers include The Five (0.69% share of impressions), CBS Evening News With Norah O’Donnell (0.66%), The Talk (0.66%) and GMA3: What You Need to Know (0.64%).

CBS remains in first place but increased its share of impressions from 16.65% the previous week to 17.55%. NBC moves into second place from third last time, with a 15.8% share. Both networks benefitted largely from NFL games when it came to impressions. 

Additional notes on the top networks by share of TV ad impressions from January 9-15:

• Fox moves up a few notches to third place from sixth previously, with a 9.45% share of impressions. Although NFL games and related coverage contributed the lion’s share of impressions for the network, men’s college basketball and Friday Night SmackDown were two other top impressions-driving programs.
• Spanish-language networks Univision and Telemundo both move up a spot on the ranking, although Univision actually had a slight decrease in its share of TV ad impressions (down to 3.74% from 3.90%) while Telemundo increased its share (from 2.61% to 3.11%).
• TNT glides from No. 14 to No. 12 with a 1.02% share of impressions. The vast majority (nearly 80%) of TNT’s impressions came from NBA games.
• All of the week-over-week ranking newcomers were sports-related networks: ESPNU (No. 14), ESPNEWS (No. 19), Fox Deportes (No. 20) and SEC Network (No. 22).

ESPN’s College Football Playoff National Championship telecast carried the sports network to a primetime win last week, according to Nielsen.

ESPN averaged 3.3 million viewers during the week of Jan. 11 to Jan. 17 to top all cable networks, said Nielsen. The network’s Jan. 11 Alabama-Ohio State telecast was the most watched sports/entertainment show for the week, averaging more than 18 million viewers. That number was markedly down compared to the 25 million viewers that tuned into the LSU-Clemson CFP National Championship game in January 2020, said Nielsen. 

The three major cable news networks finished in the next three spots, led by CNN’s 3.1 million viewers, followed by MSNBC’s 2.8 million viewers and Fox News’ 2.4 million watchers. HGTV finished fifth for the week with 1 million viewers.

Hallmark Channel (944,000), TLC (877,000), History (862,000), Discovery Channel (807,000) and TBS (782,000) all rounded out the top 10 most watched networks in primetime.

CNN averaged 2.1 million viewers on a total day basis to win the category for the second straight week, followed by MSNBC, Fox News, ESPN and HGTV, according to Nielsen.

Continued subscriber losses at its flagship ESPN sports network coupled with fewer college football games in the period helped drag overall fiscal first quarter results at The Walt Disney Co.

ESPN lost subscribers in the period, continuing a trend that has weighed heavily on the company. Coupled with the change in timing of the College Football Playoffs – only three CFP bowl games were aired in the period, vs. 6 in the same period last year – and revenue at the Cable Networks division dipped 2% to $4.4 billion. Operating income at Cable Networks fell 11% $864 million from $975 million in the prior year.

Broadcast revenue was flat at $1.8 billion and operating income increased 28% to $379 million.

Parks and Resorts was the bright spot, with revenue up 6% and operating income increasing 13% in the period.

Overall revenue at Disney was down 3% to $14.8 billion and operating income fell 7% to $4 billion. Net income declined 14% to $2.5 billion.

“We’re very pleased with our financial performance in the first quarter. Our Parks and Resorts delivered excellent results and, coming off a record year, our Studio had three global hits including our first billion-dollar film of fiscal 2017, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” said Disney chairman and CEO Bob Igerin a statement. “With our proven strategy and unparalleled collection of brands and franchises, we are extremely confident in our ability to continue to drive significant value over the long term.”

ESPN wrapped up the inaugural College Football Playoff with the ultimate Nielsen paydirt, establishing a third record cable audience in as many telecasts with its coverage of Ohio State's decisive win over Oregon on Monday night.

The Jan. 13 telecast of the inaugural College Football Playoff National Championship — the Buckeyes' 42-20 victory over the Ducks at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas – averaged an 18.2 U.S. household rating and 33. 4 million viewers,according to Nielsen, delivering both the largest audience and highest rating in cable television history.

The worldwide leader's championship game presentation surpassed the Jan. 1 marks it set with the CFP semifinals -- OSU's win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl drew 28.3 million, eclipsing the 28.2 million who saw the opener of the doubleheader, Oregon's 59-20 demolition of defending champion Florida State in the Rose Bowl. The semifinals pushed the 2011 BCS title tilt --Auburn clipped Oregon -- and its 27.3 million average from the cable record book.

Standing together as the three-most-watched telecasts in cable history,  the CFB Playoff Semifinals and National Championship combined to average 29.8 million viewers and a 16.0 household rating.

The College Football Playoff National Championship generated a 31% increase in viewership and a 26% rating gain over the 25.6 million and 14.4 ratings for 2014 BCS National Championship in which FSU beat Auburn in the last minute.

OSU-Oregon also came within shouting distance of the 35.6 million who saw Texas topple USC in the 2006 BCS title game, which remains the top college football telecast in history.

The simulcast of ESPN’s main telecast of the College Football Playoff National Championship on WatchESPN attracted 1.16 million unique viewers, 82 million minutes viewed and average minute audience of 366,000. The usage represents an increase of 110% (553,000 unique viewers), 144% (33,600,000 minutes viewed), and 128% (160,000 average audience), respectively, over the 2014 BCS National Championship.

With those deliveries, the CFP National Championship now ranks as the best college football game ever on WatchESPN based on unique viewers, minutes viewed, and an average minute audience surpassing this year’s Sugar Bowl (912,000 unique viewers, 58.7 million minutes viewed, and an average minute audience of 256,000). It also ranks as the best non-World Cup event ever on WatchESPN.

Beyond the traditional telecast, ESPN offered more than 12 ways to watch last night’s championship game through the "CFP Megacast."  Collectively, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes and ESPNEWS, along with ESPN, combined to average 34,148,000 viewers and an 18.6 US household rating. This year’s “Megacast” increased viewership and ratings by 30%and 26% respectively, over the 2014 BCS National Championship Megacast – the first multi-network telecast of this kind, which attracted 26.2 milion viewers and a 14.8 rating.  Television ratings for ESPN Classic, and ESPN Goal Line, which were part of the CFP Megacast, are not available.

The “CFP Megacast” on WatchESPN, which included five unique variations on ESPN3 in addition to the networks’ simulcasts – combined to attract 1.41 million unique viewers, 106,300,000 minutes viewed and average minute audience of 475,000. The usage represents an increase of 82% (773,000 unique viewers), 101%(52,900,000 minutes viewed) and 88%(252,000 average audience over the 2014 BCS National Championship Megacast.

“The inaugural College Football Playoff was a resounding success by all measures,” said John Skipper, ESPN President.  “Fans responded in record numbers across television and digital platforms. It’s been a great first year and we look forward to the opportunity to build upon the excitement as we continue our long-term commitment to this tremendous event.”

Although many expect ESPN's presentation of tonight College Football Playoff National Championship to register a new audience record for cable television, the worldwide leader is giving viewers plenty of options to check out the Oregon-Ohio State title tilt.

For the second straight season, the worldwide leader is putting its "Megacast" into play for the collegiate pigskin championship, bringing the season to visual and aural crescendos through more than a dozen alternate productions across its various multimedia platforms.

The CFP Megacast initiative of the title game from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 8:30 p.m. (PT) will include different telecasts across ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Goal Line; ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes Radio broadcasts; five variations on ESPN3; and coverage around the world via ESPN International distribution.

With the inaugural CFP semifinals, ESPN kicked off 2015 by establishing the two biggest audiences in cable history., The Ducks' 59-20 drubbing of defending champion Florida State in the Rose Bowl scored 28.2 million watchers, erasing the 27.3 million watchers for  the 2011 BCS title game won by Auburn over Oregon from the Nielsen record book. That standard was eclipsed in the nightcap, as the Buckeyes' upset of top-ranked Alabama rolled before 28.3 milion watchers.

Below find the worldwide leader's Megacast Game Plan for the Oregon-OSU matchup:

• Traditional Telecast: ESPN’s traditional telecast will be called by Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, with Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi reporting from the sidelines.
• Film Room: The popular option from last year – which included coaches and ESPN analysts predicting a fake punt the play before it occurred – will be available on ESPN2. The coverage will feature ESPN analysts Chris Spielman and Tom Luginbill with Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, new Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, who was defensive coordinator of this season’s Michigan State squad that played both Ohio State and Oregon, and new Nebraska coach Mike Riley, the former coach of Oregon rival Oregon State, providing in-depth X and O analysis of the game as it happens from a film room equipped with multiple camera angles, coaches clicker technology and telestration at ESPN’s Bristol, Conn. headquarters.
• ESPN Voices: The ESPNU telecast will take fans into a specially-created viewing theatre with a cross-section of ESPN on-air personalities from outside college football responsibilities as they watch and discuss the game, including Jay Bilas, Aaron Boone, Julie Foudy, Barry Melrose, Mark Schlereth and Michael Wilbon.
• Off the Ball: Available on ESPNEWS, Off the Ball will give viewers an inside look at the way current ESPN analysts Kevin Carter, Matt Millen, Jason Sehorn and Matt Stinchcomb, as well as Super Bowl-winning wide receiver Amani Toomer, study and dissect the game by focusing on the plays away from the ball, including in the trenches of the offensive and defensive lines, the wide receiver vs. defensive back matchups, coaching strategy and more. Bob Wischusen will host.
• Sounds of the Game: ESPN Classic’s coverage will couple ESPN’s video with the natural sounds of the game that will be captured by the 100 microphones positioned throughout the stadium. The telecast will include the pregame and halftime performances of the Oregon and Ohio State marching bands.
• Radio Broadcast: ESPN Radio’s broadcast will use ESPN’s Monday Night Football announcer Mike Tirico with top ESPN college football analyst Todd Blackledge, reporters Holly Rowe and Joe Schad, and Rules Expert Bill Lemonnier.
• Home Team Radio: ESPN3, in cooperation with IMG College, will offer an “Oregon Radio Call” (via Oregon IMG Sports Network) and “Ohio State Radio Call” (via Ohio State IMG Sports Network) presentation. Each of the team’s specific coverage will feature the their home radio broadcast (Oregon’s Jerry Allen, analyst Mike Jorgensen, reporter Joey McMurray and host Chase Morgan, and Ohio State’s Paul Keels with analyst Jim Lachey and reporter Marty Bannister). The on-screen presentation will provide fans of both teams with the game feed plus isolated cameras on their home team’s head coach and marquee players.
• Command Center: Available on ESPN Goal Line, the commercial-free coverage will feature a full-time split screen application showing the live game action, along with immediate replays of every play and isolated camera feeds of both head coaches, enhanced statistics and the ESPN Radio broadcast call. The Command Center option will sample other Megacast content during on-field media timeouts.
• Spanish Language Call: ESPN Deportes will provide a traditional telecast of the game with Eduardo Varela and analyst Pablo Viruega providing a Spanish language call of the action. The game will also be available in Spanish on ESPN Deportes Radio.
• SpiderCam: Fans will be able to watch the entire game from the above stadium SpiderCam angle on ESPN3.
• Taco Bell Student Section: The ESPN3 commercial-free option will feature cameras in the Taco Bell student sections (special sections created by Taco Bell that treat 500 students from each school to a VIP experience) and with the cheerleaders, bands and mascots of each team to showcase how the most enthusiastic fans in the building are living and dying with every play.
• Data Center: The commercial-free coverage on ESPN3 will include significant on-screen graphic content ranging from analytics, curated social media reaction and more.
• Around the World: ESPN’s game coverage will be available to the men and women serving in the United States military branches in 175 countries through the American Forces Network. Fans in 146 countries around the world will be able to view the game on ESPN International and ESPN Deportes platforms.
• Social Media: ESPN will also use its various social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter within the coverage. Potential content includes behind-the-scenes insights, statistics and information, interaction with fans, and more.

All of the CFP Megacast options on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN3, ESPN Deportes and ESPNEWS will also be available through WatchESPN, accessible on computers, smartphones, tablets, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360, and Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider.

ESPN Radio’s broadcast will also be available via the ESPN Radio app, the SportsCenter App, ESPNRadio.com, SiriusXM, Apple iTunes Radio, Slacker Radio and TuneIn.