I’m almost done with my article about Nielsen “black weeks” and hope to have it published tomorrow. While researching the article, I came across a list of what appears to be the Top 10 TV shows in the first Nielsen Television Index (NTI) report, issued in May 1950.
Unfortunately, the article doesn’t say what period this first report covered or how many households were included in the sample.
Here’s the Top 10:
| ## | Program | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Milton Berle | 79.8 |
| 2. | Godfrey’s Talent Scouts | 66.3 |
| 3. | Godfrey and Friends | 55.2 |
| 4. | Toast of the Town | 55.1 |
| 5. | Stop the Music (1st Half) | 51.9 |
| 6. | Cavalcade of Boxing | 51.1 |
| 7. | Stop the Music (2nd Half) | 50.5 |
| 8. | The Lone Ranger | 49.1 |
| 9. | The Goldbergs | 49.0 |
| 10. | Big Story | 48.4 |
According to Television History – The First 75 Years, there were 103 television stations in operation in 1950 in 60 cities. It’s likely the first NTI report only covered the largest cities/markets where television was most popular.
Source:
Wolters, Larry. “The TELEVIEWER.” Chicago Daily Tribune. 8 May 1950: B10.
