• by Wayne Friedman , October 29, 2015

Even in an age of traditional media fragmentation, upscale TV viewers are still important, with two network comedies this season taking top honors among non-sports prime-time programs.

CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” was the No. 1 show among homes that earn $100,000 or more with a 7.52 Nielsen rating -- with ABC’s “Modern Family” in second place at a 7.47 rating.

ABC’s “Modern Family” was the No. 1 show for those homes earning $200,000 or more with a 8.62 rating. CBS’ “Big Bang Theory” was No. 1 at 6.56.

ABC had 10 of the top 20 programs when it comes to homes earning $100,000 or more. CBS has five shows, followed by NBC with four and Fox with one.

Taking out sports, ABC leads overall in $100,000-income homes with an average 3.01 rating. NBC is next at a 2.65 followed by CBS with a 2.32 and Fox at a 1.79. ABC also leads with $200,000-income homes with a 2.84, followed by NBC at a 2.48, CBS with a 2.04, and Fox at a 1.59.

Prime-time NFL football, which runs on NBC and CBS -- as well as spilling into early evening Sunday prime time -- typically pulls in high-income homes, as well.

ABC was even more dominant in higher household income -- those homes earning $200,000 or more -- with 12 shows. NBC had four, followed by CBS with three and Fox with one.

The two best shows for NBC were new series “Blindspot” and “The Voice” for both income brackets. For homes earning $100,000 or more, “Blindspot” posted a 5.35 rating -- in third place overall and a 4.41 rating for homes earning $200,000 or more, good for seventh place.

“The Voice” (on Mondays) earned a 4.65 rating among $100,000-income homes and a 4.50 rating among $200,000-income homes.

Fox did well only with “Empire” -- pulling in a 4.17 rating for Nielsen homes earning $100,000 and more and a 3.67 rating for homes earning $200,000 or more.