Record-breaking ratings performances from shows on TBS and AMC helped the networks finish at the top of the primetime weekly ratings charts, according to Nielsen.
TBS, boosted by a network ratings high 14.7 million viewers generated for its March 28 Kentucky/Notre Dame Men’s college basketball tournament telecast, averaged 4.6 million viewers to finish first among all cable networks for the week of March 23 to March 29, according to Nielsen.
AMC, fresh off ‘The Walking Dead’s record 15.8 million viewers for the zombie-themed show’s March 29 season five final episode, finished the week in second place with 2.1 million viewers. USA and Fox News tied for third with 1.71 million viewers, while HGTV pulled into fifth place with 1.51 million viewers.
Disney Channel (1.5 million viewers); History (1.41 million); TNT (1.14 million) Discovery Channel (1.13 million) and Adult Swim (1.06 million) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for the week.
On a 24-hour basis, Nickelodeon barely held off TBS (1.34 million viewers to 1.33 million) to finish first in the demo. Next up were Adult Swim (1.17 million); Fox News and Disney Channel (tied with 1.1 million).
Top Shows For the Week Of March 23-March 29
DateProgramNetworkTotal Viewers
3/39 The Walking Dead AMC 15.7 million
3/28 Kentucky/Notre Dame NCAA College Basketball TBS 14.7 million
3/28 NCAA College Basketball Show TBS 10.8 million
3/28 Arizona/Wisconsin NCAA College Basketball TBS 8.8 million
3/29 Talking Dead AMC 7.5 million
3/26 North Carolina/Wisconsin NCAA College Basketball TBS 6.8 million
3/28 NCAA College Basketball Post-Game Show TBS 5.3 million
3/27 NCAA College Basketball Post-Game Show TBS 5.1 million
3/26 Xavier/Arizona NCAA College Basketball TBS 4.5 million
3/27 Michigan State/Oklahoma NCAA College Basketball TBS 4.4 million
Source: Nielsen
