Boston and Miami's most watched shows

Up north in Boston, hockey rules in the ratings race. The NHL semi final game May 1st was the most watched show in the market, delivering 656,000 viewers to NBC Sports last week.  Besides the line up of CBS/WBZ sitcoms and dramas and ABC/WCVB reality shows rounding out the top 10, one stand out was ABC/WCVB's "Shark Tank'' reality show, which was #4 with 322,000 viewers. 

And HBO's "Game of Thrones" captivated (or decaptivated) 258,000 viewers or 12th place and tying with NBC/WHDH's "The Voice".)

Here's a look at Boston's most watched for the week of April 28 through May 4:

  1. NBCS NHL Semi Final (May 1st) 656,000  total viewers

  2.  WBZ-CBS Big Bang Theory 391,000
  3.  WBZ-CBS NCIS 377,000 
  4. WCVB-ABC Shark Tank 322,000
  5.  WCVB-ABC Dancing w/ Stars 317,000
  6.  WBZ-CBS 60 Minutes  286,000 
  7.  WBZ-CBS NCIS:LA     283,000
  7. WCVB-ABC The Middle 281,000
  9.  WCVB-ABC Modern Family 268,000
  9. WBZ-CBS Survivor 268,000
11. WHDH-NBC The Voice 264,000
12. WHDH-NBC The Voice 259,000
12. HBO Game of Thrones 258,000

source: Nielsen

And in Miami...

'Sal y Pimienta' hosts Lourdes Stephen and Rodner Figueroa.

 "Sal y Pimienta" (Salt and Pepper entertainment/gossip show) on Univision was the most watched show last week in Miami/Fort Lauderdale, even beating the Miami Heat games during the NBA playoffs. 

Who's watching what in Boston (and the 305)

Who wins in the "Game of Thrones?" The Starks. The Lannisters. The dragons? How about Boston viewers. The HBO series was the seventh most watched program last week, scoring 258,000 total viewers for the season debut.  But CBS's cadre of sitcoms and dramas drew the most audiences, capturing five out of the top 10 shows.  Also of note: NESN's broadcast of Red Sox games came in #15 (236,000 viewers), #18 (214,000) and #22 (201,000 ).

Here's a look at the most watched programs in Boston from March 31-April 6.

   1. WBZ-CBS Big Bang Theory 535,000 total viewers.

   2. WBZ-CBS How I Met Your Mother 476,000

   3. WBZ-NCIS  432,000

   4. WBZ-CBS NCIS:LA  325,000

   4. WCVB-ABC Dancing w/ Stars 324,000

   6. WHDH-NBC The Voice 267,000

   7.  WBZ-CBS  Friends w/Better Lives  258,000  

   7.  HBO Game of Thrones 258,000

   7. WHDH-NBC The Voice 256,000

 10. WBZ-CBS 60 Minutes 255,000

 10. WCVB-ABC The Middle 253,000

10. WBZ-CBS The Millers 253,000

10. WCVB:ABC Modern Family 252,000

source: The Nielsen Company

And over in Miami-Fort Lauderdale, here's my roundup for those ratings as well as some local newscasts.

Boston (and Miami's) most watched

The dead live it up in the ratings at least in Boston. AMC's "The Walking Dead"  was the third most watched program last week when it drew 307,000 bodies.  It was the only cable program to crack the top 30 for the week of March 17 through last Sunday except for NESN's March 18 broadcast of a Bruins game which scored 220,000 viewers (or #12 for the week.) 

Here's a look at the most watched programs in Boston.

   1. WBZ-CBS NCIS  418,000 total viewers.

   2. WBZ-CBS 60 Minutes 341,000

   3. AMC Walking Dead  307,000

   4. WBZ-CBS NCIS:LA  287,000

   5. WCVB-ABC Dancing w/ Stars 285,000

   6. WHDH-NBC The Voice 269,000

   7.  WBZ-CBS How I Met Your Mother 267,000  

   8.  WHDH-NBC The Voice  256,000

   9. WCVB-ABC Castle  248,000

 10.WBZ-CBS Two Broke Girls 227,000

 10. WCVB-ABC Shark Tank 226,000

source: The Nielsen Company

And for Miami, here are the most watched shows for the same week.

 1.  WPLG-ABC Dancing w/ Stars 172,000 total viewers
 2.  WFOR-CBS 60 Minutes 166,000
 2.  SUN-FOX Sports NBA (Heat game) 165,000
 4.  WFOR-CBS NCIS 161,000
 5.  SUN-FOX Sports NBA (Heat game) 156,000
 5.  AMC The Walking Dead 155,000
 7.  SUN-FOX Sports NBA (Heat game) 148,000
 7.  WLTV-UNI Nuestra Belleza (beauty contest) 147,000
 9.  WLTV-UNI Sal y Pimienta (gossip show)  142,000
10.  WFOR-CBS NCIS: LA 138,000
10.  WLTV-UNI Que Vida Me Robo (telenovela) 137,000
12. WSVN-FOX American Idol  (Wednesday) 134,000
source: The Nielsen Company

Boston hearts Winter Olympics

Bostonians may be totally over the blustery wintry weather this season but they can't seem to get enough of the Winter Olympics. Primetime coverage of the Sochi games is skating circles around all other programming in the Boston TV market giving NBC affiliate WHDH-Ch. 7 ratings gold.

Also of note, folks really really likey ABC's "The Bachelor" which was #13 with 196,000 viewers on WCVB-Ch. 5.  And WFXT-Ch. 25's 10 p.m. newscast popped in at #14 with 174,000 viewers on Feb. 12, building from its lead-in "American Idol" which was #15 with 166,000.  Idol's Thursday night show was #16 with 161,000 viewers.

Here's a look at the most recent ratings from Feb. 10 through last Sunday.

 1. WHDH-NBC  Olympics (Feb. 13)  568,000 total viewers.

 2. WHDH-NBC Olympics (Feb. 11)   535,000

 3. WHDH-NBC Olympics (Feb. 14)   524,000

 4. WHDH-NBC Olympics (Sunday)    520,000

 5. WHDH-NBC Olympics (Feb. 12)   512,000

 5. WHDH-NBC Olympics (Feb. 10)   508,000

 7. WHDH-NBC Olympics  (Saturday) 504,000 

 8. AMC  The Walking Dead                325,000

 9. WGBH-PBS Downton Abbey         281,000

10. WBZ-CBS 60 Minutes                   243,000

source: Nielsen

Boston and Miami's top shows

Boston and Miami don't have much in common (except maybe for my novels and Casola's Pizzeria) but at least their TV viewers have similar tastes in shows.

Both markets pretty much had the same most watched programs for the week of Jan. 6 through last Sunday including The AFC matchups between the Broncos and Chargers and the Patriots and the Colts, the Golden Globes and "60 Minutes."

Also of note in Boston, WGBH-PBS "Downton Abbey" Sunday came in #13 with 255,000 total viewers; WBZ-CBS's "Blue Bloods" with Donnie Wahlberg popped in at #15 with 246,000 viewers and WHDH-NBC's Golden Globes red-carpet arrival show rolled in at #20 with 213,000.

Here's a look at the Boston ratings round up followed by Miami/Fort Lauderdale's (because who else would do this?)

 1. WBZ-CBS AFC Playoff Game (Jan. 11) 1.893 million
 2. WBZ-CBS AFC Playoff Game (Jan. 12) 1.242 million 
 3  WBZ-CBS AFC Playoff pregame coverage (Jan. 11) 763,000
 4. WHDH-NBC Golden Globes 616,000
 5. WBZ-CBS 60 Minutes 575,000
 6. WBZ-CBS Big Bang Theory 535,000
 7. WBZ-CBS NCIS  440,000
 8. WFXT-FOX (7:45-815 p.m. Jan. 11 sports coverage) 374,000
 9. WBZ-CBS Intelligence 339,000
 9. WCVB-ABC The Middle 335,000
11. ESPN BCS Championship game 325,000

MIAMI-FORT LAUDERDALE.  For more of  an analysis of the Miami ratings, go here.

 1. WFOR-CBS AFC Playoff Game (Jan. 12) 451,000
 2. ESPN BCS Championship game 359,000
 3  WFOR-CBS AFC Playoff Game (Jan. 11) 336,000
 4. WTVJ-NBC Golden Globes 332,000
 5. SUNSPORTS-FOX  NBA (Miami Heat game) 219,000
 6. TNT NBA Basketball  (Heat game) 191,000
 6. WFOR-CBS 60 Minutes 191,000
 6. WSVN-FOX Football (Jan.11) 191,000
 6. ESPN BCS BOWL (college football) 190,000
10. WFOR-CBS NCIS 181,000

source: The Nielsen Company

Sunday was must-see TV day in Miami and Boston

The most watched shows in South Florida last week happened on Sunday.  Whether it was CBS football, NBC football, "60 Minutes", NBA games, "The Good Wife" or Univision's tribute to late Mexican American singer Jenni Rivera, people stayed home in front of the tube over the long Thanksgiving weekend. Here's a round up of the most popular shows from last week that I posted on the Sun Sentinel website. 

In Boston, almost half of the top 10 most watched shows were also viewed on Sunday.  In fact, the top three shows mirrored those of the Miami market. WBZ-Ch.4's broadcast of the NFL game between the Cincinatti Benggals and San Diego Chargers led with 772,000 total viewers, followed by "60 Minutes" with 546,000 and CBS' football coverage. Other popular Sunday programs were CBS's "The Amazing Race" (#6 with 292,000 viewers), NBC Sunday Football (#7 with 285,00), "The Good Wife" (#17 with 226,000). ABC's "Once Upon A Time" (#18 with 220,000), Hallmark movie "Christmas in Conway'' on ABC (#24 with 183,000) and ABC's American Music Awards (#176,000.)

Here's the top list from the Boston market.

 1. WBZ-CBS  NFL 772,000
 2. WBZ-CBS  60 Minutes 546,000
 3. WBZ-CBS  NFL 449,000
 4. WHDH-NBC NFL 406,000
 5. WCVB-ABC  Dancing w/Stars 309,000
 6. WBZ-CBS  Amazing Race 292,000
 7. WHDH-NBC Sunday Football 285,000
 8. WHDH-NBC The Voice 253,000
 9. WBZ-CBS Big Bang Theory 246,000
 9. WCVB-ABC  Castle 245,000
 9. WBZ-CBS Rudolf the Reindeer 244,000
12. WHDH-NBC The Voice 242,000

source: The Nielsen Co.

Miami/Boston's most watched shows

With the fall TV season ramping up again, new network shows and viewer favorites are back with fresh episodes.  Univision's version of "Dancing with The Stars" stepped into first place in Miami/Fort Lauderdale with 282,000 total viewers. Of note, WSVN-Fox's 10 p.m. newscast ranked #25 with 137,000 total viewers.   Up in Boston, football is king. NBC Sunday's Football scored more than a million viewers. (that would be akin to everyone in the city of Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville and Newton tuning in.)  Of note in Boston, the finale for AMC's "Breaking Bad" smoked up the ratings with 265,000 viewers. And ABC's new Avengers spin-off "Marvel Shield" ranked #15 with 281,000.

Here's a look at who watched what in Miami and Boston for the week of Sept. 23-29.

MIAMI

1.  WLTV-UNI   Mira Quien Bailla (dance show)  282,000
2.  WLTV-UNI   Sal y Pimienta (gossip show)      253,000
3.  WFOR-CBS NCIS                                        196,000
4,  WSVN-FOX  NFL                                        200,000
4.  WFOR-CBS   Big Bang Theory                       191,000
6.  ESPN  NFL Regular season                            183,000
7.  WTVJ-NBC  Sunday Football                         187,000
7. WSCV-TEL   Marido en Alquiler (soap opera)   179,000
9. WFOR-CBS  NCIS-LA                                   174,000
10.WPLG-ABC  Modern Family                          173,000
10. WFOR-CBS Big Bang Theory                        170,000
10.  WTVJ-NBC  The Voice                                170,000


BOSTON

1. WHDH-NBC  Sunday Football                        1,238,000