Classic TV Ratings and Rankings: 1963-64 Season

Rural comedies propel CBS to the top of the charts for the 1963-64 season. Lead by the #1 program of the season, THE BEVERLY HILL BILLIES, CBS placed nine programs in the top ten and 19 of the top 30 programs of the season. CBS had hits on every night of the week and success in every genre. Comedy, Drama, Western, Variety and Reality. When we think of those all time classic TV shows, it usually was on CBS, during this era.

NBC did manage to get BONANZA (#2) into the top ten, but only placed six program in the top 30 chart.

ABC fared much worse. its top show was only ranked #16 (THE DONNA REED SHOW) and had a total of five, top 30 programs on its schedule.

Top 30 Network Programs by household ratings
(Households with TVs - 51.6 million)

1. The Beverly Hillbillies (CBS) - 39.1
2. Bonanza (NBC) - 36.9
3. The Dick Van Dyke Show (CBS) - 33.3
4. Petticoat Junction (CBS) - 30.3
5. The Andy Griffith Show (CBS) - 29.4
6. The Lucy Show (CBS) - 28.1
7. Candid Camera (CBS) - 27.7
8. The Ed Sullivan Show (CBS) - 27.5
9. The Danny Thomas Show (CBS) - 26.7
10. My Favorite Martian (CBS) - 26.3
11. The Red Skleton Hour (CBS) - 25.7
12. The Jack Benny Program (CBS) - 25.0
12. Lassie (CBS) - 25.0
14. I've Got a Secret (CBS) - 25.0
15. Jackie Gleason and his American Scene Magazine (CBS) - 24.6
16. The Donna Reed Show (ABC) - 24.5
17. The Virginian (NBC) - 24.0
18. The Patty Duke Show (ABC) - 23.9
19. Dr. Kildare (NBC) - 23.8
20. Gunsmoke (CBS) - 23.5
21. Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (NBC) - 23.0
22. McHale's Navy (ABC) - 22.8
23. Hazel (NBC) - 22.8
24. What's My Line? (CBS) - 22.6
24. To Tell The Truth (CBS) - 22.6
25. Perry Mason (CBS) - 22.1
26. My Three Sons (ABC) - 21.9
27. The Fugitive (ABC) - 21.7
28. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (ABC) - 21.6
29. The Danny Kaye Show (CBS) - 21.5
30. Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theater (NBC) - 21.5