Top Rated Shows of 2019: Super Bowl LIII, ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ ‘Game of Thrones’ Dominate

CBS is sure going to miss “The Big Bang Theory.” The long-running sitcom, which ended in May after 12 seasons, was a ratings bazinga for the Eye network up until the very end. And in fitting with its popularity, the comedy’s May 16 finale, “The Change Constant”/”The Stockhom Syndrome,” was the highest-rated telecast of a scripted series on linear TV in 2019 — averaging nearly 25 million viewers. ” It was also the top-rated scripted broadcast telecast (and No. 1 comedy airing) of the year with adults 18-49, averaging a 5.0 rating.

“The Big Bang Theory” ultimately landed 13 of the top 100 most-watched telecasts of the year, while spin-off “Young Sheldon” grabbed another 12 slots.

But it was ultimately another broadcast that cemented CBS’ status as the most-watched linear network of the year in total viewers: Super Bowl LIII. No surprise, the matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and eventual winner New England Patriots was the top telecast of the year, averaging 98.8 million viewers.

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The game also provided a huge lead-in for CBS’ “World’s Best,” which received the plum post-Super Bowl slot this year, and averaged 23.5 million viewers in that premiere. The Eye was so high on the show that it got that tremendous placement — but it ultimately became a rare misstep for the otherwise on-fire James Corden. Reviews for “World’s Best” were dour, and once it moved to a regular timeslot, “World’s Best” fizzled out. The show’s finale averaged 3.6 million viewers, and was canceled.

Overall, football still dominates primetime viewing: The NFL and college football (via its championship game) took six of the top 10 slots among viewers, and 20 of the top 50.

Meanwhile, the Academy Awards reclaimed its position as the most-watched entertainment program of the year (at 30.5 million viewers), reclaiming that title after having been beat out last year by the post-Super Bowl episode of “This Is Us.”

Besides “World’s Best,” just one another new series landed a slot on the year’s top telecasts ranker: Fox’s “The Masked Singer.”

As for the adults 18-49 telecast ranker, it was HBO’s departing “Game of Thrones” that dominated. The show’s April 28 episode, “The Long Night,” was the top-rated regular scripted series telecast this year, with a 6.8 rating. All six episodes of the show’s final season made the lists of most-watched shows among total viewers and adults 18-49.

CBS dominated the total viewers list, even though it doesn’t air NFL football in primetime. Beyond special events like the Super Bowl, Grammys and NCAA Final Four, the Eye network benefited from “The Big Bang Theory,” “Young Sheldon” and “NCIS” — leading to 57 slots on the end-of-year list of top telecasts. NBC was next, with 15, followed by Fox (13), HBO (6), ABC (5) and ESPN (4).

Here’s our ratings roundup of the year’s most-watched telecasts (in Live+7 ratings), according to broadcast and cable measurements.

[For historical record, here are previous year-end telecast rankers: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015.]

MOST-WATCHED PRIMETIME TELECASTS OF 2019 (TOTAL VIEWERS)

THE 50 TOP-RATED PRIMETIME TELECASTS OF 2019 (ADULTS 18-49)