The TV season is coming to a close and networks spent the week claiming bragging rights.

For the just the second time in the last decade, CBS finished first for the season among primetime’s key demographic of adults 18-49, although that was due to the network’s airing of Super Bowl 50 in February, which drew nearly 12 million viewers. Without the Super Bowl, CBS tied NBC in the demo.

In what is a more common feat for CBS, it also claimed the season crown among adults 25-54 for the ninth time in the last 13 years and among viewers for the eighth consecutive season and the 13th time in the past 14 years.

But other networks had things to brag about as well.

NBC scored its most-watched season in nine years without a Super Bowl or an Olympics. It also boasted the only real rookie hit of the season in Blindspot, and got a solid performance out of Chicago Med. It also had the season’s highest-rated new reality program, Little Big Shots, hosted by Steve Harvey, and the number-two rated new comedy with America Ferrera’s Superstore.

NBC’s Sunday Night Football was also the most watched broadcast series overall, with 22 million total viewers and a 7.8 rating.

On that note, Fox had the season’s biggest broadcast drama with Empire, averaging 21.2 million viewers per episode and a 6.7 rating average among adults 18-49 when all multi-platform and DVR views are counted. Season two retained the majority of its audience from the first season, and also ranks number one among African American adults.

Meanwhile, CBS’ The Big Bang Theory is the most-watched scripted program on any network, and CBS’ Life in Pieces was the top-rated rookie comedy.

Still, what the networks didn’t have to brag about was their overall performance. Their cumulative five-net average among adults 18-49, an 8.9, dropped 7 percent from last year’s 9.6 to fall to another record low. The five broadcast networks also cumulatively lost 9 percent of their viewers, declining to 33.6 million viewers from 36.8 million. The data comes as Nielsen ratings struggle to measure online and mobile viewing.

SEASON’S BROADCAST NETWORK RANKINGS

(Most current for Sept. 21, 2015-May 22, 2016)

Adults 18-49 rating/share (difference vs. last year)

CBS: 2.3/8 (even)

NBC: 2.1/7 (-12%)

FOX: 1.9/6 (even)

ABC: 1.8/6 (-18%)

CW: 0.8/3 (even)

UNI: 0.8/3 (- 27%)

TEL: 0.6/2 (even)

READ MORE: Variety

[Image courtesy of Variety]

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