Highest Rated Network of all time?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

barwars · 08-27-2004, 09:59 PM

What network has been rated Number 1 the most??

Its either NBC or CBS.... but Im not sure which.
Most likely CBS

Brian · 08-27-2004, 10:10 PM

Probably CBS. They've been very consistent in good quality programming since the channel's inception and they have had a lot of high-rated shows over the past 50 years. That doesn't mean NBC or ABC hasn't had good programming, either. ABC dominated the late 70s and NBC dominated the 90s with Seinfeld and Friends.

ABC didn't get noticed a lot until the 1970-71 season, when Marcus Welby, MD was rated #1. Before then, there were good shows but not too many viewers. But then that show got there because it had little competition in that time slot.

If we're talking consistency, CBS, I think, is #1. NBC was weak in the 1970s, the decade belonged to CBS and ABC. It wasn't until Cheers, Family Ties, Hill Street Blues, The A-Team, The Cosby Show, among other signature series that NBC did well. I'd say NBC owned the 80s and 90s. CBS has gotten back on track since CSI started.

Cactus Jack · 08-27-2004, 10:12 PM

I would think CBS

Superstar · 08-28-2004, 05:04 AM

CBS

USTVFanFromUK · 08-30-2004, 06:15 PM

I remember readiong somewhere ABC was the #1 network of the 90's and NBC was the #1 network of the 80's.

barwars · 08-30-2004, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by USTVFanFromUK
I remember readiong somewhere ABC was the #1 network of the 90's and NBC was the #1 network of the 80's.

ABC #1 in the 90s?!
With what??

USTVFanFromUK · 08-30-2004, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by barwars
ABC #1 in the 90s?!
With what??

ABC literally ruled every night of the 90's except Thursday's apparently. Most of the shows that were top 30 from 1990 to at least 1997 were from ABC.

Top 31 shows from 1990 to 1995:

http://www.chez.com/fbibler/tvstats/..._us_index.html

Top 31 Shows from 1995 to 1999:

http://www.chez.com/fbibler/tvstats/..._us_index.html

barwars · 08-30-2004, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by USTVFanFromUK
ABC literally ruled every night of the 90's except Thursday's apparently. Most of the shows that were top 30 from 1990 to at least 1997 were from ABC.

Top 31 shows from 1990 to 1995:

http://www.chez.com/fbibler/tvstats/..._us_index.html

Top 31 Shows from 1995 to 1999:

http://www.chez.com/fbibler/tvstats/..._us_index.html

Thanks for the links, I stand corrected.
I always thought NBC held #1 until CSI came along.

db108108 · 08-30-2004, 11:27 PM

If my memory serves correctly, ABC only won one season in the 1990's- 94/95. CBS won 90/91- 93/94 and NBC 95/96-98/99.

This was a very big deal at this time because of the "fall of the Tiffany" network. After CBS tried to go younger and failed, ABC snuck up with a slate of aging sitcoms. NBC then started winning in 95/96 because of the Friends/ER/Seinfeld phenomona.

ABC took back over in 99-00 with Millionaire, and finished in a virtual tie with CBS for the lead in 00-01. Of course, that's when "Millionaire" went south and ABC crashed. CBS has led ever since, and will more than likely win the up coming season.

A more interesting question: when does anybody see CBS being knocked off their current purch? NBC is going south, and will see declines this season, while ABC will probably be static. But CBS has shown growth all summer long, even with airing mostly repeats. It's funny, Fox and NBC break themselves airing new shows, and CBS still wins most timeslots with repeats.

factsoflife · 08-31-2004, 12:11 AM

CBS has tended to be the Number #1 network. and when they tried going after younger viewers it FAILED MISERABLY. Shows like Dweebs, Bless This House and so on were just awful and not the trademark of CBS. That why when CBS was able to reclaim the older viewers they came up w/ the most ingenuious marketing campaing i've ever heard of "Welcome Home, To CBS". I LOVED hearing Cybill Shepherd, Jane Seymoure, Roma Downey, Candace Bergin, Fran Drescher and others say "CBS, WELCOME HOME!"

spunkygirl · 08-31-2004, 12:33 AM

It amazes me that some people say Wings wasn't successful when the ratings prove otherwise

factsoflife · 08-31-2004, 01:59 AM

Who mentioned Wings?

spunkygirl · 08-31-2004, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by factsoflife
Who mentioned Wings?

Nobody in this thread, I was thinking about at the Wings board we were talking about how people have said that Wings wasn't successful, when I saw the ratings(in that link from above) it made me think of that

Dean Winchester · 08-31-2004, 03:27 PM

with Friends and Frasier gone, and with Will And Grace and possibly ER on their last wings, I think it won't be long before NBC enters another 1979-1982 (give or take some years) period

USTVFanFromUK · 08-31-2004, 03:34 PM

I think this upcomming season will be the hardest for each of the 5 big networks. Nothing really stands out or is wildly popular.

08-27-2004, 10:12 PM	#3
Cactus Jack RonFingSwanson Forum Idol Join Date: Dec 09, 2001 Location: Santa Rosa Beach,FL Posts: 103,099	I would think CBS
	__________________ Id Love to help you Tracy, but I cant have sex with a black guy, Id lose my endorsement deal with NASCAR-Jenna Maroney,30 Rock April 17,2009 9:02 PM : 100,000th post!

08-31-2004, 12:11 AM	#10
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,744	CBS has tended to be the Number #1 network. and when they tried going after younger viewers it FAILED MISERABLY. Shows like Dweebs, Bless This House and so on were just awful and not the trademark of CBS. That why when CBS was able to reclaim the older viewers they came up w/ the most ingenuious marketing campaing i've ever heard of "Welcome Home, To CBS". I LOVED hearing Cybill Shepherd, Jane Seymoure, Roma Downey, Candace Bergin, Fran Drescher and others say "CBS, WELCOME HOME!"
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

08-27-2004, 09:59 PM	#1
barwars .. Forum Star Join Date: May 04, 2002 Posts: 13,273	Highest Rated Network of all time?? What network has been rated Number 1 the most?? Its either NBC or CBS.... but Im not sure which. Most likely CBS

08-27-2004, 10:10 PM	#2
Brian Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Jun 23, 2001 Posts: 20,451	Probably CBS. They've been very consistent in good quality programming since the channel's inception and they have had a lot of high-rated shows over the past 50 years. That doesn't mean NBC or ABC hasn't had good programming, either. ABC dominated the late 70s and NBC dominated the 90s with Seinfeld and Friends. ABC didn't get noticed a lot until the 1970-71 season, when Marcus Welby, MD was rated #1. Before then, there were good shows but not too many viewers. But then that show got there because it had little competition in that time slot. If we're talking consistency, CBS, I think, is #1. NBC was weak in the 1970s, the decade belonged to CBS and ABC. It wasn't until Cheers, Family Ties, Hill Street Blues, The A-Team, The Cosby Show, among other signature series that NBC did well. I'd say NBC owned the 80s and 90s. CBS has gotten back on track since CSI started.

08-28-2004, 05:04 AM	#4
Superstar Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 08, 2003 Posts: 63,316	CBS

08-30-2004, 06:15 PM	#5
USTVFanFromUK Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 553	I remember readiong somewhere ABC was the #1 network of the 90's and NBC was the #1 network of the 80's.

08-30-2004, 11:27 PM	#9
db108108 Teacher (for now) Senior Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2003 Location: 2 hours north of Detroit, 2 hours south of Toronto Posts: 1,023	If my memory serves correctly, ABC only won one season in the 1990's- 94/95. CBS won 90/91- 93/94 and NBC 95/96-98/99. This was a very big deal at this time because of the "fall of the Tiffany" network. After CBS tried to go younger and failed, ABC snuck up with a slate of aging sitcoms. NBC then started winning in 95/96 because of the Friends/ER/Seinfeld phenomona. ABC took back over in 99-00 with Millionaire, and finished in a virtual tie with CBS for the lead in 00-01. Of course, that's when "Millionaire" went south and ABC crashed. CBS has led ever since, and will more than likely win the up coming season. A more interesting question: when does anybody see CBS being knocked off their current purch? NBC is going south, and will see declines this season, while ABC will probably be static. But CBS has shown growth all summer long, even with airing mostly repeats. It's funny, Fox and NBC break themselves airing new shows, and CBS still wins most timeslots with repeats.

08-31-2004, 12:33 AM	#11
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	It amazes me that some people say Wings wasn't successful when the ratings prove otherwise

08-31-2004, 01:59 AM	#12
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,744	Who mentioned Wings?

08-31-2004, 03:27 PM	#14
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	with Friends and Frasier gone, and with Will And Grace and possibly ER on their last wings, I think it won't be long before NBC enters another 1979-1982 (give or take some years) period

08-31-2004, 03:34 PM	#15
USTVFanFromUK Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 553	I think this upcomming season will be the hardest for each of the 5 big networks. Nothing really stands out or is wildly popular.