Los Angeles - UPI
The Nielsen ratings system has often been criticized for failing to adapt its calculations to the varying ways that Americans watch and interact with their favorite television shows, though it has started measuring social media response.
According to a Nielsen report released Monday, the most tweeted-about show between September 1, 2013 to May 25, 2014 was Breaking Bad, which bowed September 29 of last year.
Tweets about the dark drama reached 9.1 million Twitter users for its final episode, the report said. Breaking Bad averaged an audience of more than 6 million Twitter accounts.
Another AMC show, The Walking Dead, took second place with an average of 5.2 million accounts.
Here's the full list:
1. Breaking Bad
2. The Walking Dead
3. Pretty Little Liars
4. The Bachelor
5. Game of Thrones
6. Teen Wolf
7. American Horror Story: Coven
8. Scandal
9. The Voice
10. Dancing With the Stars
Twitter buzz doesn't usually translate to advertising dollars for networks, but it can give executives a feel for a series' cultural impact.
The March Oscars ceremony, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, came in first place for most tweeted-about specials, while February's Super Bowl took No. 1 for the most tweeted-about sporting event.