2018 was another fantastic year for TV, so we're taking a look at the most-watched TV shows of the year. With new seasons of prestige shows like The Haunting of Hill House, audiences have truly been spoiled for choice this year - but which shows were the heaviest hitters in of pure audience numbers?
Since streaming platforms like Amazon Prime are not monitored by Nielsen and are generally very protective of viewership stats for their TV shows, this list will only include shows that aired on traditional TV networks. It's also naturally dominated by broadcast TV shows, since cable viewers represent a smaller slice of the audience and therefore cable shows almost always have lower ratings. So, don't be too disappointed if your favorite TV show didn't make the list.
Related: The Best New TV Shows Of 2018
Without further ado, here are the most-watched TV shows of 2018 based on the average number of viewers per episode, according to Nielsen's summary of the year.
- This Page: 10-6 Most-Watched TV Shows of 2018
- Page 2: Top 5 Most-Watched TV Shows of 2018
10. Bull - CBS - 13,511,000 Viewers
With an average of 13.5 million viewers per episode, legal drama paid a $9.5 million settlement to actress Eliza Dushku, who was fired after complaining about on-set sexual harassment from Weatherly. It remains to be seen whether this bad press will have an impact on the future of the show, which has not yet been renewed for season 4.
9. America's Got Talent - NBC - 14,273,000 Viewers
This year once again saw fierce competition for the top spot in season 13 of America's Got Talent, which averaged 14.2 million viewers per episode during the Tuesday night live shows. This year's winner was 27 year-old magician Shin Lim, who specializes in card tricks and whose signature move involves seemingly conjuring smoke from thin air. Next month Lim will return, along with 49 other contestants around the world, to compete for the ultimate title in spin-off series America's Got Talent: The Champions. The returning judges are Simon Cowell, Mel B, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel, while Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Terry Crews will take over Tyra Banks' seat.
8. The Good Doctor - ABC - 14,517,000
If 15 seasons of Grey's Anatomy taught us anything, it's that people really love a good medical drama - and in 2018, audiences loved The Good Doctor to the tune of 14.5 million viewers per episode. Currently in its second season, The Good Doctor stars Freddie Highmore as a young autistic syndrome who has savant syndrome, allowing him to make incredible diagnoses. The show's ratings are down from its first season, which placed it as the #3 most-watched TV show of 2017, but any placement in the top 10 is not to be sniffed at and we fully expect The Good Doctor to be renewed for a third season.
7. Manifest - NBC - 14,622,000 Viewers
In this brand new sci-fi series second half of season 1 in 2019.
Related: Manifest Midseason Finale Ending Explained
6. Young Sheldon - CBS - 15,668,000
crossover episode of the parent series. With The Big Bang Theory coming to an end with its twelfth season, Young Sheldon will continue the story in prequel form - and perhaps even go on to feature cameos from the Big Bang cast. The second half of Young Sheldon season 2 will begin on January 10, 2019.
Page 2: Top 5 Most-Watched TV Shows of 2018
5. This Is Us - NBC - 16,594,000 Viewers
Sometimes people just need to have a good cry - and NBC's family drama Jack Pearson, the father of the show's three kids, died. This Is Us has gone from strength to strength, becoming not only one of the most-watched shows on TV but also one of the most talked-about, with fans sharing their theories online and reacting to the sometimes-heartbreaking twists and turns. This Is Us will return for the second half of season 3 in January 2019.
4. NCIS - CBS - 16,724,000 Viewers
Currently in its 16th season, NCIS' average number of viewers has dropped slightly since 2017, but it has climbed up one spot in Nielsen's rankings. The police procedural stars Mark Harmon as a special agent leading a team in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, which looks into crimes involving Navy or Marine personnel. NCIS is NBC's most-watched drama series of 2018, and has led to two spinoff shows set in New Orleans and Los Angeles. With well over 200 episodes having now aired and ratings still going strong, NCIS is unlikely to end any time soon.
3. The Big Bang Theory - CBS - 18,330,000 Viewers
Geek sitcom The Big Bang Theory is now in its twelfth and final season, and when it reaches its series finale in 2019 it will definitely be going out on a high note. The season premiere drew almost 13 million live viewers, with an average of 18.3 million viewers total checking in to see the antics of Leonard and the gang on Thursday nights this season, holding steady from last year. Don't be surprised if the last episode ever of The Big Bang Theory propels the show to an even higher ranking in 2019's end-of-year stats. By the end of its run - which will come in May 2019 - The Big Bang Theory will be the longest-running multicamera series in the history of television, with 279 episodes total.
Related: Young Sheldon Reveals Origin Of Big Bang Theory's "Bazinga" Catchphrase
2. Sunday Night Football - NBC - 19,560,000 Viewers
TV shows may come and go, but football never dies, and NBC's regularly-programmed Sunday Night Football was the second most-watched show of 2018 - slightly down from its #1 spot in 2017, but with more average viewers than last year. In fact, this year Sunday Night Football broke a ratings record with the Week 9 game between the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers, with the Patriots beating the Packers 31-17, which attracted almost 18 million live viewers (not including streaming).
1. Roseanne - ABC - 19,960,000 Viewers
It may have been short-lived, but the revival of ABC sitcom The Conners - a spinoff series in which family matriarch was killed off and the focus was shifted to the rest of the Conners.