Of the top 400 shows to air on television last year, 188 of them were reality TV. Leading the pack once again were NBC’s America’s Got Talent, with The Bachelor leapfrogging over The Voice and the no-longer-airing American Idol to take the number-two spot.
I analyzed and filtered the top 400 scripted and reality shows that aired last year, using Nielsen ratings data provided to TV critics by FX Networks Research.
That list ranked all 1,354 television shows based on their live + 7, 18-49 ratings—i.e. how many people ages 18 to 49 watched within seven days of a live broadcast.
The full list is below. First, a few observations:
- Unlike last year, Big Brother is now more popular than Survivor—but just barely. The difference in the 18-49 rating was .01—Big Brother had a 2.46 while Survivor had a 2.45—and about 4,000 total viewers.
- The highest rated cable reality series is Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, followed by Love & Hip Hop.
- NBC reality TV continues to dominate, with its reality shows constituting five of the top-20 shows on television.
- CBS’ Hunted, which failed to become a hit or earn a renewal, was more highly rated than Bachelor in Paradise and Dancing with the Stars, which illustrates how overall ranking matters less to networks than performance in their timeslots, days, and/or seasons.
- Here’s the list of most-popular reality TV shows of 2016 for comparison.
The 188 most-popular reality shows of 2017
These are the most-popular reality TV shows across broadcast and cable television last year, ranked according to viewers ages 18 to 49.
Some important notes and caveats:
- These are live + 7 ratings, meaning they include all viewers who watched that show within seven days, but not
- The shows are ranked according to their viewers ages 18 to 49, the demographic that is the most commonly valued. However, some networks, particularly those on cable, may target more specific demographics, such as women ages 25 to 54. In other words, the show’s overall ranking here might not matter that much to the network, as shows might rank very differently in different demos.
- Many shows are on the list more than once, because their network told Nielsen to list seasons, episodes, and/or specials as separate shows.
- This list excludes scripted shows, of course, hence the gaps in numbers.
7. America’s Got Talent (Tuesday), NBC
12. The Bachelor, ABC
13. America’s Got Talent (Wednesday), NBC
14. The Voice (Monday), NBC
16. World of Dance, NBC
17. The Voice (Tuesday), NBC
18. Big Brother (Wednesday), CBS
19. Big Brother (Thursday), CBS
20. Big Brother (Sunday), CBS
21. Survivor, CBS
27. The Bachelorette, ABC
38. Hunted, CBS
40. Bachelor in Paradise, ABC
43. Love and Hip Hop Atlanta 6, VH1
47. Dancing with the Stars, ABC
61. Bachelor in Paradise (Tuesday), ABC
63. American Ninja Warrior, NBC
64. Love and Hip Hop 7, VH1
72. Little Big Shots, NBC
75. Masterchef (Wednesday), Fox
78. Shark Tank, ABC
83. Masterchef, Fox
87. Teen Mom II (season 7B), MTV
90. The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Bravo
91. Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood, VH1
94. Gold Rush, Discovery
96. Teen Mom II (season 8), MTV
97. Amazing Race, CBS
98. Celebrity Family Feud, ABC
99. Masterchef Junior, Fox
105. Hell’s Kitchen, Fox
107. Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery, ID
108. The Wall, NBC
111. Street Outlaws, Discovery
112. Teen Mom (season 7), MTV
118. The Apprentice, NBC
119. Basketball Wives 6, VH1
121. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Bravo
122. Love and Hip Hop (season 8), VH1
123. Teen Mom (season 6B)
127. The Curse of Oak Island, History
129. Shark Tank (Sundays at 10), ABC
133. Spartan: Team Challenge, NBC
135. The Real Housewives of Orange County, Bravo
152. Vanderpump Rules, Bravo
156. Match Game, ABC
157. Fixer Upper, HGTV
158. Love and Hip Hop Atlanta (specials), VH1
159. Undercover Boss, CBS
161. Hollywood Game Night, NBC
163. America’s Funniest Home Videos, ABC
164. Keeping Up with the Kardashians, E!
165. T.I. and Tiny, VH1
167 (tie). Leave it to Stevie, VH1
167 (tie). Beat Shazam, Fox
170. To Tell the Truth, ABC
173. Black Ink Crew (season 6), VH1
174. Chrisley Knows Best, USA
176. Real Housewives of New York City, Bravo
179. Little Big Shots: Forever Young, NBC
181. So You Think You Can Dance, Fox
182. Black Ink Crew (season 5), VH1
184. Real Housewives of New Jersey, Bravo
189. Fast ‘n’ Loud, Discovery
190. Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, A&E
195. Impractical Jokers, truTV
197. Hip Hop Squares, VH1
198. The Challenge: Dirty 30, MTV
199. Below Deck, Bravo
200. My Kitchen Rules, Fox
202. The $100,000 Pyramid, ABC
203. Steve Harvey’s Funderdome, ABC
205. To Tell the Truth, ABC
206. Naked and Afraid XL, Discovery
207. Alaskan Bush People, Discovery
208. K Michelle: My Life (season 3), VH1
209. First Dates, NBC
210. Project Runway, Bravo
211. Diesel Brothers, Discovery
212. Ink Master, Spike
214. Worst Cooks in America (season 10), Food Network
216. Xscape: Still Kickin’ It, Bravo
217. Sister Wives, TLC
218. Below Deck: Mediterranean, Bravo
220. Top Chef, Bravo
221 (tie). Real Housewives of Potomac, Bravo
221 (tie). Deadliest Catch, Discovery
223. Battle of the Network Stars, ABC
226. Southern Charm, Bravo
227. Love Connection, ABC
228. Street Outlaws SPC, Discovery
230. The Challenge: Invasion, MTV
233. Mama June: From Hot to Not, WE tv
234. Naked and Afraid, Discovery
235. The F Word, Fox
236. The Gong Show, ABC
238. 90 Day Fiance, TLC
241. Floribama Shore, MTV
241. Black Ink Crew: Chicago, VH1
244. Forged in Fire, History
248. 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days, TLC
249. Fast ‘N’ Loud SPC, Discovery
251. The Challenge: Champs vs. Stars, MTV
252. Halloween Wars, Food Network
259. Food Network Star (season 13), Food Network
260 (tie). To Tell the Truth (Wednesdays at 10), ABC
260 (tie). Moonshiners, Discovery
262. Shahs of Sunset, Bravo
263. 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After, TLC
264. The Toy Box, ABC
267. Iron Chef Gauntlet, Food Network
270. Catfish (season 6B), MTV
272. Alone, History
273. Holiday Baking Championship (season 4), Food Network
275. Gold Rush: Special, Discovery
277. Scared Famous, VH1
278 (tie). Gold Rush: Parker’s Trail, Discovery
278 (tie). Kicking & Screaming, Fox
281. Sister Wives Tell All, TLC
283. Are You The One? (season 5), MTV
284. Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, VH1
287. 60 Days In, A&E
288. Superhuman, Fox
289. Catfish (season 6), MTV
290. Candy Crush, CBS
292. Hip Hop Squares (season 1B), VH1
294. The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros, MTV
295. Street Outlaws: NOLA, Discovery
297. Flip or Flop, HGTV
299. 90 Day Fiance: What Now, TLC
301. Life of Kylie, E!
302 (tie). Boy Band, ABC
302 (tie). Married to Medicine, Bravo
305. Little Women Atlanta, Lifetime
307 (tie). Worst Cooks in America (season 11), Food Network
307 (tie). Swamp People, History
310. My 600-LB Life, TLC
314. The Rap Game, Lifetime
315. Alaskan Bush People SPC, Discovery
316. Flipping Out, Bravo
317. Live PD, A&E
318. America’s Next Top Model (season 23), VH1
319. Halloween Baking Championship (season 3), Food Network
321. Siesta Key, MTV
322. Is OJ Innocent: The Missing Evidence, ID
324 (tie). The Murder of Lacy Peterson, A&E
324 (tie). Little Women: LA, Lifetime
328. Little People, Big World, TLC
330. Duck Dynasty, A&E
331. Are You The One (season 6), MTV
332. The Real Housewives of Dallas, Bravo
334. RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 9), VH1
335. Alaska: The Last Frontier, Discovery
339. Counting On, TLC
340. American Grit, Fox
341. Killing Fields Special, Discovery
344. Million Dollar Listing: NY, Bravo
345. Bring It!, Lifetime
348. Outdaughtered, TLC
349. Married At First Sight, Lifetime
350. Killing Fields, Discovery
352. Diesel Brothers SPC, Discovery
353. Summer House, Bravo
354. Swamp People FL, History
354. Spring Baking Championship (season 3), Food Network
357 (tie). Kids Baking Championship (season 3), Food Network
357 (tie). Lip Sync Battle, Spike
362. The Wheel, Discovery
369 (tie). American Ripper, History
369 (tie). Braxton Family Values, WE tv
372. Face Off, Syfy
373. Great Food Truck Race (season 8), Food Network
379. Don’t Be Tardy, Bravo
381. Naked and Afraid XL SPC, Discovery
382. Teen Mum, MTV
382 (tie). Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party (season 2), VH1
382 (tie). Dance Moms, Lifetime
385. Fear Factor, MTV
388. Bering Sea Gold, Discovery
389. Brother vs. Brother, HGTV
391. Finding Escobar’s Millions, Discovery
394. Total Divas, E!
395. The Hunt For The Zodiac Killer, History
396. Little Women: LA: Couples Retreat, Lifetime
396. Garage Rehab, Discovery
398. Million Dollar Listing: LA, Bravo
399. Cooper’s Treasure, Discovery
400. Hard Knocks: Tampa Bay, HBO
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