Top-rated United States television programs by season explained

This article presents the top-rated American primetime broadcast network television series by season from 1950 to the present according to Nielsen Media Research.

1950s

October 1950–April 1951

October 1951–April 1952

October 1952–April 1953

October 1953–April 1954

October 1954–April 1955

October 1955–April 1956

October 1956–April 1957

October 1957–April 1958

October 1958–April 1959

October 1959–April 1960

1960s

October 1960–April 1961

October 1961–April 1962

October 1962–April 1963

October 1963–April 1964

October 1964–April 1965

October 1965–April 1966

October 1966–April 1967

October 1967–April 1968

October 1968–April 1969

October 1969–April 1970

1970s

October 1970–April 1971

October 1971–April 1972

October 1972–April 1973

September 1973–April 1974

September 1974–April 1975

September 1975–April 1976

September 1976–April 1977

September 1977–April 1978

September 1978–April 1979

September 1979–April 1980

1980s

September 1980–April 1981

September 1981–April 1982

September 1982–April 1983

September 1983–April 1984

September 1984–April 1985

September 1985–April 1986

September 1986–April 1987

September 1987–April 1988

October 1988–April 1989

September 1989–April 1990

1990s

September 1990–April 1991

September 1991–April 1992

September 1992–April 1993

September 1993–April 1994

September 1994–April 1995

September 1995–May 1996

September 1996–May 1997

September 1997–May 1998

September 1998–May 1999

September 1999–May 2000

2000s

September 2000–May 2001

September 2001–May 2002

September 2002–May 2003

September 2003–May 2004

September 2004–May 2005

September 2005–May 2006

September 2006–May 2007

September 2007–May 2008

September 2008–May 2009

September 2009–May 2010

2010s

September 2010–May 2011

September 2011–May 2012

September 2012–May 2013

September 2013–May 2014

September 2014–May 2015

September 2015–May 2016

September 2016–May 2017

September 2017–May 2018

September 2018–May 2019

Multiple rankings in the Top 30

43 seasons
32 seasons
18 seasons
17 seasons
16 seasons
15 seasons
14 seasons
13 seasons
12 seasons
11 seasons
10 seasons
9 seasons
8 seasons
7 seasons
6 seasons
5 seasons
4 seasons
3 seasons
2 seasons