TV Networks TV Networks with the Best Shows  

Ranker TV
Originally by
27.5k votes 3.2k voters 88.5k views 68 items

List of the TV networks with the best programming, ranked by content consumers. Is modern television better than film? Movie stars are stepping down from the silver screen to star in award-winning TV shows. Which channels have the best of the bunch? As competition increases, cable companies, and premium networks are producing some of the best series the world has ever seen.

What channels have the best shows? This list discusses the best programming from popular North American networks, including the names of the original series they air. No matter what genre you’re craving, one of these top networks will have the right shows for you.

This list features the best U.S. networks with best programming, including: HBO, NBC, Showtime, TBS, AMC, Fox, FX, and more.

list ordered by

1
1,259 448
HBO is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Game of Thrones
The Sopranos
True Detective
Silicon Valley
True Blood
Girls
The Wire

2
1,151 292
Netflix is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Allan Hviid Jensen added

House of Cards
Stranger Things
Narcos
Orange Is the New Black
Bloodline
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Master of None
 

3
1,036 362
AMC is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Breaking Bad
Mad Men
The Walking Dead
The Killing
Better Call Saul

 

4
518 460
Showtime is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Homeland
Dexter
Weeds
Californication
Episodes

5
686 348
FX is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Justified
Sons of Anarchy
Archer
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

6
628 469
The CW is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

The Vampire Diaries
Supernatural
Arrow
Beauty and the Beast
Hart of Dixie

7
586 402
ABC is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Grey's Anatomy
Once Upon a Time
Scandal
Modern Family
Castle

8
525 338
NBC is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Seinfeld
Saturday Night Live
Parks and Recreation
Friends
This Is Us
Law & Order

9
358 381
BBC America is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Doctor Who
Orphan Black
Top Gear

10
434 259
History is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Vikings
Pawn Stars
Swamp People
Alone
Ancient Aliens

11
353 334
Comedy Central is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

The Daily Show
Broad City
Workaholics
South Park 

12
389 293
CBS is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
NCIS
Criminal Minds
The Big Bang Theory
The Amazing Race

13
297 197
Fox Television Stations is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
crsone1 added

The Simpsons
The X-Files
Married... with Children
24
Family Guy

14
275 291
Syfy Universal is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

The Magicians
Warehouse 13
The Expanse
Battlestar Gallactica​​​​​​​
Face Off

15
313 281
USA Network is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Suits
White Collar
Royal Pains
Monday Night Raw

16
248 252
A&E is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Duck Dynasty
The Glades
Longmire
Criminal Minds
CSI: Miami

17
150 152
Nickelodeon is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
BillyMcKenna added

Spongebob Squarepants
Rugrats
The Fairly Odd Parents
Hey Arnold
Doug
​​​​​​​All That

18
266 287
Public Broadcasting Service is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Downton Abbey
Masterpiece
Sherlock
The Great British Baking Show
Nova

19
168 180
FXX is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
RalphBob added

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Atlanta
Archer
The Americans
American Horror Story

20
260 258
Starz is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Starz

Outlander
Power
American Gods
Counterpart
Black Sails

21
206 207
Adult Swim is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Redevil added

Aqua Teen Hunger Force
Robot Chicken
The Venture Bros.
The Boondocks
Squidbillies
 

22
197 280
TNT is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Rizzoli & Isles
Falling Skies
Major Crimes
Franklin & Bash
Dallas

23
148 225
HGTV is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Fixer Upper
Property Brothers
Flip or Flop
House Hunters
Love It or List It

24
167 251
TBS is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Cougar Town
Men at Work
Sullivan & Son
Meet the Browns

25
181 220
Animal Planet is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

The Crocodile Hunter
Meerkat Manor
The Most Extreme
River Monsters

26
140 233
TV Land is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Andy Griffith Show
Mork & Mindy
Hot in Cleveland
Everybody Loves Raymond

27
245 188
National Geographic Channel is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Taboo
Break It Down
World's Toughest Fixes
Hooked
Man Made

28
146 251
TLC is listed (or ranked) 28 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Say Yes to the Dress
The Little Couple
What Not to Wear
Cake Boss
A Baby Story

29
142 188
Paramount Network is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Redevil added Paramount Network

Yellowstone
American Woman
Waco
Lip Sync Battle
Bar Rescue

30
89 228
Sundance Channel is listed (or ranked) 30 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Rectify
The Returned
The Red Road

31
142 233
Disney Channel is listed (or ranked) 31 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Good Luck Charlie
Shake it Up
Jessie
Hannah Montana

32
106 107
Amazon.com is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Brody Hillstock added

Alpha House
King Lear
Eat the World With Emeril Lagasse

33
136 192
Travel Channel is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

The Dead Files
Man v. Food
Hotel Impossible
Food Paradise

34
114 233
Hallmark Channel is listed (or ranked) 34 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Hallmark

Accidentally in Love
Before You Say 'I Do'
Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door

35
126 194
truTV is listed (or ranked) 35 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Impractical Jokers
The Carbonaro Effect
Adam Ruins Everything
Those Who Can't

36
88 88
FX Movie Channel is listed (or ranked) 36 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Cathy Hagen added

37
84 206
CNN is listed (or ranked) 37 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
IsooRon added

Anderson Cooper 360
Erin Burnett OutFront
New Day

38
101 181
Fox News Channel is listed (or ranked) 38 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Cathy Hagen added

Fox & Friends
The Five
Tucker Carlson Tonight
Special Report

39
77 151
Disney XD is listed (or ranked) 39 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Tyler Carter added

Gravity Falls
Phineas and Ferb
Star vs. the Forces of Evil
Lab Rats
Wander Over Yonder

40
67 103
Science is listed (or ranked) 40 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Brody Hillstock added

Extreme Engineering
Backyard Science
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey
Outrageous Acts of Science

41
45 92
The Weather Channel is listed (or ranked) 41 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Cathy Hagen added The Weather Channel

Storm Stories
Atmospheres
Day Planner
Morning Rush

42
53 121
IFC is listed (or ranked) 42 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Ryan Guy added

Comedy Bang! Bang!
Portlandia
Brockmire
Stan Against Evil

43
47 58
Food network is listed (or ranked) 43 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Ms.green added Food network

Chopped
Worst Cooks in America
Food Network Star
The Great Food Truck Race
Iron Chef America

44
79 160
Bravo is listed (or ranked) 44 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Tom Derr added

Vanderpump Rules
Top Chef
Flipping Out
The Millionaire Matchmaker
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills

45
40 112
Discovery Communications is listed (or ranked) 45 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Brody Hillstock added

Planet Earth
MythBusters
Deadliest Catch
Brain Games
Man vs. Wild

46
21 45
BBC Entertainment is listed (or ranked) 46 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
Valka added

47
59 231
Oxygen is listed (or ranked) 47 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Absolutely Fabulous
The Glee Project
Nighty Night
I've Got a Secret
Bad Girls Club

48
60 83
Freeform is listed (or ranked) 48 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows

Shadowhunters
The Bold Type
Pretty Little Liars
The Fosters
Young & Hungry

49
21 102
Laff is listed (or ranked) 49 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
RichardBeecher added Laff

Cybill
Grace Under Fire
Grounded for Life
Home Improvement
Nigh Court

50
44 19
Hulu is listed (or ranked) 50 on the list TV Networks with the Best Shows
payer35 added

Freakish
Casual
Difficult People
Harlots
Dimension 404