Top-rated United States television programs of 1996–97
# Top-rated United States television programs of 1996–97

This table displays the top-rated primetime television series of the 1996–97 season as measured by Nielsen Media Research.

| Rank | Program | Network | Rating |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | ER | NBC | 21.2 |
| 2 | Seinfeld | NBC | 20.5 |
| 3 | Suddenly Susan | NBC | 17.0 |
| 4 | Friends | NBC | 16.8 |
| 4 | The Naked Truth | NBC | 16.8 |
| 6 | Fired Up | NBC | 16.5 |
| 7 | Monday Night Football | ABC | 16.0 |
| 8 | The Single Guy | NBC | 14.1 |
| 9 | Home Improvement | ABC | 14.0 |
| 10 | Touched by an Angel | CBS | 13.6 |
| 11 | 60 Minutes | CBS | 13.3 |
| 12 | 20/20 | ABC | 12.8 |
| 13 | NYPD Blue | ABC | 12.5 |
| 14 | CBS Sunday Movie | CBS | 12.1 |
| 15 | Primetime Live | ABC | 11.9 |
| 16 | Frasier | NBC | 11.8 |
| 17 | Spin City | ABC | 11.7 |
| 18 | NBC Sunday Movie | NBC | 11.5 |
| 18 | The Drew Carey Show | ABC | 11.5 |
| 20 | Dateline NBC — Tuesday | NBC | 11.4 |
| 21 | Cosby | CBS | 11.2 |
| 21 | The X-Files | FOX | 11.2 |
| 23 | Walker, Texas Ranger | CBS | 11.0 |
| 23 | Mad About You | NBC | 11.0 |
| 23 | Caroline in the City | NBC | 11.0 |
| 23 | NBC Monday Movie | NBC | 11.0 |
| 27 | Law & Order | NBC | 10.8 |
| 27 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | NBC | 10.8 |
| 29 | Ellen | ABC | 10.6 |
| 30 | Chicago Hope | CBS | 10.5 |
| 30 | Dateline NBC — Friday | NBC | 10.5 |
| 30 | Cybill | CBS | 10.5 |
