Networks Celebrate ‘Solid’ 2024: ‘Broadcast Still Matters’
By Movieguide® Contributor
As 2024 comes to an end, many networks are celebrating high viewer numbers — and hoping those trends carry over to the next year.
Unsurprisingly, CBS, NBC and ABC led the pack, in first, second and third place, respectively. While some would argue that the channels’ live sports offerings are what kept them at the top, Variety argued that there was more to the story.
“This has been a solid fall for the linear nets in entertainment fare as well, which boasts breakout fall hits like CBS’ MATLOCK, ABC’s HIGH POTENTIAL, and NBC’s HAPPY PLACE,” the outlet reported. “Broadcast still matters in 2024.”
READ MORE: MATLOCK RENEWED FOR SEASON 2
TVLine noted that, while ABC’s numbers were down 1%, the network still had a good 2024, setting it up for an even better 2025.
“DWTS had a strong season, providing a great lead-in for the freshman drama HIGH POTENTIAL, which was a huge upgrade for its time slot,” they wrote, adding that long-running firefighting drama 9-1-1 tied to be “TV’s #2-rated broadcast drama.”
Variety also noted that news networks like Fox News, MSNBC and CNN boasted viewer increases. Fox News’ viewers went up a whopping 30%, making it the fifth most-watched network of 2024.
“FNC was the number one network throughout the political cycle and more viewers tuned into the network for breaking news coverage of major events than any other cable news channel, catapulting FNC to another year of ratings dominance,” a statement from Fox reads.
2024 wasn’t a big year for everyone, though. As Gen Z increasingly turns to YouTube and TikTok, numbers for kids’ channels like Disney and Nickelodeon plummeted. Nickelodeon was down 31%, while Disney fell 17%.
READ MORE: GOOGLE CONSIDERS EXPANDING YOUTUBE TV TO GLOBAL MARKET
Another 2024 loser? Spin-off channels, which Variety explained are “often the first to be zombified.”
FXX and Nat Geo Wild both went down by 29%, while MTV 2 decreased by 31%.
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