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‘Stranger Things,’ ‘DWTS’ Leads Ratings


TV audiences were high on the Upside Down this season. “Stranger Things” ended its final season with an average of 32.9 million viewers, easily making it the most-watched series of the just concluded 2025 26 TV frame. The Netflix thriller averaged that number over 35 days, per Nielsen’s multiplatform ranker.

Netflix also scored the previous season No. 1 with “Squid Game.” Nielsen introduced the multiplatform data last year, finally giving us an apples-to-apples comparison of how shows are doing on streaming versus linear. This chart doesn’t include sports series like “Sunday Night Football,” which would still be No. 1 (at least in linear), but does give us a clearer look at what truly were the most-watched regular series of the year.

Besides “Stranger Things,” that also meant Netflix’s “His & Hers.” Then came the most-watched broadcast show of the year according to the multiplatform ranker: CBS’ “Marshals,” the first broadcast show in the Taylor Sheridan “Yellowstone” universe, which posts 20.7 million viewers.

Keep in mind: This chart only goes to mid-April, so the numbers for new shows airing episodes in May could decrease. But as the season winds down, CBS also has “Tracker” in the top 10, while ABC has “High Potential,” HBO Max has “The Pitt” and Paramount+ has “Landman.” The rest of the top 10 are Netflix shows.

Meanwhile, Variety also has the more traditional season-ending live+7 ranker for broadcast and cable — and, of course, no surprise that NFL leads the charge. In total viewers, CBS’ “Tracker” is the top-rated entertainment show, while in 18-49, ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” leads the charge. (Among interesting quirks of that chart: Four episodes of Fox’s “Universal Basic Guys,” which aired behind the NFL and were reported to Nielsen under a slightly different title, did huge as a result.)

Here are some highlights (and low lights) of the TV season, per the Nielsen rankers.

HIGHS

“The Pitt”: The HBO Max medical drama was a critical darling from the start, and became an awards powerhouse in Season 1 with a best drama win. But the show hadn’t yet morphed into a phenomenon with viewers last May — failing to make the top 100 in total viewers, and landing at No. 51 in the adults 18-49 chart. A year later, “The Pitt” is a top ten show, and it doesn’t even air on HBO’s linear channel.

“Dancing With the Stars,” “Survivor”: A lot has been made about how ABC’s celebrity dance competition has made a comeback, and the numbers don’t lie. Thanks to its growth in viral popularity, “DWTS” grew its multiplatform audience from 7.1 million last season to 9.8 million — tied with “Survivor” Season 50, which was up from Season 49 (7.8 million) and Season 48 (8.3 million). Meanwhile, in the L7 18-49 chart, “DWTS” and “Survivor” were the season’s top-rated entertainment shows.

Apple TV and Peacock: While Netflix continues to dominate among the pure streamers, and Prime Video, Paramount+ and HBO Max also have their fair share of original series, both Peacock and Apple TV landed more shows on the top 100 ranker this year. Peacock didn’t originate any of the total viewers shows last year; this year it has “All Her Fault,” “The Traitors” and “The ‘Burbs.” For Apple, last year it just had “Severance.” This year, the streamer broadened out with “Shrinking” and “Pluribus” making the chart.

Revivals and Remakes: ABC’s return of “Scrubs” and Hulu’s “Malcolm in the Middle” revisit, dubbed “Life’s Still Unfair,” paid off in the ratings. (“Scrubs” was the season’s top-rated new comedy in adults 18-49). Peacock’s reimagining of “The ‘Burbs” with Keke Palmer was a hit, and Fox found a way to reboot “Fear Factor” with Johnny Knoxville.

LOWS

’60 Minutes”: The only newsmagazine to reach the multiplatform top 100 shows of the 2025-26 season, it’s incredible to see “60 Minutes” remain a powerhouse in the ratings, even in Season 58. Given how successful and important “60 Minutes” has been to CBS News and broadcast journalism in general, it’s a shame to see the new leadership there completely dismantle it. CBS opting to cancel late night’s No. 1 talk show, “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” and severely wound the most-watched and acclaimed newsmagaine on television at the same time is quite a questionable strategy.

Canceled shows that overperformed: It’s sometimes a mystery when high-performing shows get the ax, and that was the case again this season with Netflix’s “Boots” (6.5 million), CBS’ “Watson” (6.4 million), Netflix’s “The Abandons” (5.8 million) and CBS’ “DMV” (5.7 million). Those shows all made it to the end-of-year top 100 list, yet were canceled for a variety of stated reasons. Some were blamed for pricey budgets or declining viewership. And in the case of “Boots,” there was some concern there was a politics angle as well. No matter the reason, they all performed better than many shows that are getting another season.

America’s most-watched TV series of the 2025-2026 season are …

TOP 100 BROADCAST/CABLE/STREAMING SHOWS OF 2025-26, TOTAL VIEWERS (35-DAY MULTIPLATFORM)

Rank Title (Network/SVOD) TOTAL 35- DAY MULTI-PLATFORM VIEWERS (Millions)
1. Stranger Things (Netflix) 32.9
2. His & Hers (Netflix) 25.6
3. Marshals (CBS/ Paramount+) 20.7
4. Sean Combs: The Reckoning (Netflix) 20.6
5. Landman
(Paramount+)
19.8
6. Bridgerton
(Netflix)
18.3
7. Tracker (CBS/ Paramount+) 16.4
8. High Potential (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 16.0
9. The Pitt (HBO Max) 13.8
10. Monster: The Ed Gein Story (Netflix) 13.4
11. Fallout (Prime Video) 13.3
12. The Beast In Me (Netflix) 12.7
13. Matlock (CBS/ Paramount+) 11.5
14. The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix) 11.4
15. Sheriff Country (CBS/ Paramount+) 10.8
16. The Rookie (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 10.6
17. Ghosts (CBS/ Paramount+) 10.5
18. Will Trent (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 10.4
19. The Madison (Paramount+) 10.2
20. NCIS (CBS/ Paramount+) 10.0
21. Chicago Fire (NBC/ Peacock) 9.9
 Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (CBS/ Paramount+) 9.9
 The Boys (Prime Video) 9.9
24. Dancing With the Stars (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 9.8
 Survivor 50 (CBS/ Paramount+) 9.8
 A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (HBO/ HBO Max) 9.8
27. Wayward (Netflix) 9.7
 60 Minutes (CBS/ Paramount+) 9.7
29. Trust Me: The False Prophet (Netflix) 9.6
30. Boston Blue (CBS/ Paramount+) 9.5
31. Nobody Wants This (Netflix) 9.4
 9-1-1 (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 9.4
33. Chicago P.D. (NBC/ Peacock) 9.3
 Chicago Med (NBC/ Peacock) 9.3
35. Elsbeth (CBS/ Paramount+) 9.2
36. CIA (CBS/ Paramount+) 8.9
 FBI (CBS/ Paramount+) 8.9
38. The Night Agent (Netflix) 8.8
39. Law & Order: SVU (NBC/ Peacock) 8.7
 Scrubs (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 8.7
41. The Dinosaurs (Netflix) 8.4
 R.J. Decker (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 8.4
43. It: Welcome to Derry (HBO/ HBO Max) 8.4
 Tulsa King (Paramount+) 8.4
45. Black Rabbit (Netflix) 8.3
46. 9-1-1: Nashville (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 8.1
 Shifting Gears (ABC/ Disney) 8.1
 Fire Country (CBS/ Paramount+) 8.1
 Abbott Elementary (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 8.1
50. Survivor 49 (CBS/ Paramount+) 7.8
51. Best Medicine (Fox/ Hulu/ Fox One) 7.7
 Man vs. Baby (Netflix) 7.7
53. Euphoria (HBO/ HBO Max) 7.6
 NCIS: Origins (CBS/ Paramount+) 7.6
 American Idol (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 7.6
56. KPop Demon Hunters Lyric Videos (Netflix) 7.5
57. Run Away (Netflix) 7.4
58. Virgin River (Netflix) 7.3
 The Diplomat (Netflix) 7.3
60. Is It Cake? Halloween (Netflix) 7.1
 The Voice28 (NBC/ Peacock) 7.1
62. The Voice 28 (Tuesday) (NBC/ Peacock) 7.0
63. A Man on the Inside (Netflix) 6.9
 Paradise (Hulu/ Disney+) 6.9
 Memory of a Killer (Fox/ Hulu/ Fox One) 6.9
 One Piece (Netflix) 6.9
67. Emily in Paris (Netflix) 6.8
 Doc (Fox/ Hulu/ Fox One) 6.8
 Grey’s Anatomy (ABC/ Hulu/ Disney+) 6.8
70. All Her Fault (Peacock) 6.7
71. Law & Order (NBC/ Peacock) 6.6
 Only Murders in the Building (Hulu/ Disney+) 6.6
73. Boots (Netflix) 6.5
74. The ‘Burbs (Peacock) 6.4
 Hunting Party (NBC/ Peacock) 6.4
 Watson (CBS/ Paramount) 6.4
77. Scarpetta (Prime Video) 6.2
 Percy Jackson & the Olympians (Disney+) 6.2
79. Beauty in Black (Netflix) 6.1
80. The Traitors (Peacock) 6.0
 Big Mistakes (Netflix) 6.0
 Pluribus (Apple TV) 6.0
 Love on the Spectrum U.S. (Netflix) 6.0
84. The Abandons (Netflix) 5.8
 Invincible (Prime Video) 5.8
 Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair (Hulu/ Disney+) 5.8
 Shrinking (Apple TV) 5.8
88. The Neighborhood (CBS/ Paramount+) 5.7
 The Great British Baking Show (Netflix) 5.7
 DMV (CBS/ Paramount+) 5.7
91. The Voice 29 (NBC/ Peacock) 5.6
 Fear Factor: House of Fear (Fox/ Hulu/ Fox One) 5.6
93. Death By Lightning (Netflix) 5.5
 NCIS: Sydney (CBS) 5.5
95. Happy’s Place (NBC/ Peacock) 5.4
96. The Amazing Race (CBS/ Paramount+) 5.3
 Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen (Netflix) 5.3
98. Love Is Blind (Netflix) 5.2
99. Young Sherlock (Prime Video) 5.1
 Murder In a Small Town (Fox/ Hulu/ Fox One) 5.1
Source: Analysis of Nielsen Multiplatform Data; Big Data P2+ Prime AA, L+35, 9/14/2025-4/12/2026 + Nielsen SCR, 35-Day Total Flight for streaming. Does not include series with less than 4 telecasts, sports or specials.

TOP 100 BROADCAST/CABLE TV SHOWS OF 2025-26, TOTAL VIEWERS (LIVE+7)

Rank Title (Network) P2+ Rating (000s)
1. NFL Sunday Night Football (NBC) 20,742
2. The OT (Fox) 11,536
3. Monday Night Football on ABC (ABC) 11,495
4. Football Night in America Part 3 (NBC) 11,489
5. Tracker (CBS) 10,732
6. Marshals (CBS) 9,914
7. NFLMonday Night Football (ESPN) 9,218
8. 60 Minutes (CBS) 9,087
9. High Potential (ABC) 8,068
10. Saturday Night Football (ABC) 7,985
11. Dancing With the Stars (ABC) 7,504
12. NCIS (CBS) 7,290
13. Chicago Fire (NBC) 7,190
14. Chicago Med (NBC) 7,109
15. Matlock (CBS) 7,028
16. Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (CBS) 6,889
17. Will Trent (ABC) 6,810
18. FBI (CBS) 6,592
19. Sheriff Country (CBS) 6,479
20. Chicago P.D. (NBC) 6,396
21. American Idol (ABC) 6,228
22. Survivor (CBS) 6,153
23. Ghosts (CBS) 6,145
24. Boston Blue (CBS) 6,103
25. Elsbeth (CBS) 6,015
26. Football Night in America Part 2 (NBC) 5,901
27. 60 Minutes Presents (CBS) 5,688
28. 9-1-1 (ABC) 5,556
29. The Voice – Tuesday (NBC) 5,401
30. Shifting Gears (ABC) 5,397
31. Law & Order: SVU (NBC) 5,345
32. Fire Country (CBS) 5,318
33. NCIS: Origins (CBS) 5,308
34. The Rookie (ABC) 5,251
35. CIA (CBS) 5,244
36. R.J. Decker (ABC) 5,015
37. The Voice (NBC) 4,855
38. Law & Order (NBC) 4,797
39. 9-1-1: Nashville (ABC) 4,753
40. Best Medicine (Fox) 4,535
41. The Neighborhood (CBS) 4,499
42. Watson (CBS) 4,494
43. Doc (Fox) 4,283
44.. America’s Funniest Home Videos – 7 p.m. (ABC) 4,165
45. NCIS: Sydney (CBS) 4,098
46. Scrubs (ABC) 4,085
47. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) 3,905
48. The Amazing Race (CBS) 3,826
49. Celebrity Jeopardy! (ABC) 3,822
50. 20/20 Friday (ABC) 3,717
51. Happy’s Place (NBC) 3,703
52. Hunting Party (NBC) 3,699
53. DMV (CBS) 3,658
54. Notre Dame Football (NBC) 3,649
55. Abbott Elementary (ABC) 3,536
56. Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage – Enc (CBS) 3,505
57. Memory of a Killer (Fox) 3,484
58. The Price Is Right at Night – Wednesday (CBS) 3,482
59. The Road (CBS) 3,472
60. Murder in a Small Town (Fox) 3,374
61. B1G Saturday Night Football (NBC) 3,359
62. Jesse Watters Primetime (FNC) 3,315
63. Dateline Friday (NBC) 3,279
64. America’s Funniest Home Videos – 8 p.m. (ABC) 3,231
65. Gutfeld (FNC) 3,183
66. The Masked Singer (Fox) 3,181
67. Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (ABC) 3,151
68. St. Denis Medical (NBC) 3,080
69. Universal Basic Guys (Post-NFL) (Fox) 3,077
70. AFV – So Many Laughs (ABC) 3,071
71. Celebrity Wheel of Fortune – Enc (ABC) 3,028
72. Brilliant Minds (NBC) 3,022
73. Law & Order: Organized Crimes (NBC) 3,015
74. NBA Sunday Night Basketball (NBC) 2,948
75. Harlan Coben’s Final Twist (CBS) 2,898
76. The Golden Bachelor (ABC) 2,889
 20/20 Friday (ABC) 2,889
78. The Floor (Fox) 2,883
79. Tracker – Enc (CBS) 2,881
80. 48 Hours (CBS) 2,839
81. Hannity (FNC) 2,828
82. Fox News at Night (FNC) 2,815
83. High Potential – Enc (ABC) 2,749
84. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (NBC) 2,622
85. Law & Order – Enc (NBC) 2,566
86. Ghosts – Enc (CBS) 2,535
87. College Football Friday – Big 10 Prime (Fox) 2,509
88. NCIS – Enc (CBS) 2,481
89. America’s Culinary Cup (CBS) 2,461
90. Law & Order: SVU – Enc (NBC) 2,456
91. 48 Hours Presents (CBS) 2,437
92. 99 to Beat (Fox) 2,396
93. Sheriff Country – Enc (CBS) 2,383
94. Fear Factor: House of Fear (Fox) 2,336
95. The Neighborhood – Enc (CBS) 2,315
96. NBA Saturday Primetime (ABC) 2,309
97. Dateline Classic Friday (NBC) 2,296
98. FBI – Enc (CBS) 2,277
99. Hell’s Kitchen (Fox) 2,267
100. Next Level Chef (Fox) 2,254
Source: Nielsen National Live+7 Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings for 2025-2026 Season (9/14/25 – 5/20/26). Includes pre-season premieres. Minimum four telecasts. Excludes programs less than 20 minutes and Spanish language.

THE 100 TOP-RATED BROADCAST/CABLE SERIES OF 2025-26 (ADULTS 18-49)

Rank Title (Network) P18-49 Rating
1. NFL Sunday Night Football (NBC) 4.90
2. The OT (Fox) 2.68
3. Football Night in America Part 3 (NBC) 2.63
4. NFL Monday Night Football (ESPN) 2.63
5. Monday Night Football on ABC (ABC) 2.15
6. Saturday Night Football (ABC) 1.81
7. Dancing With the Stars (ABC) 1.48
8. Football Night in America Part 2 (NBC) 1.29
9. Survivor (CBS) 1.06
10. 60 Minutes (CBS) 0.81
11. Universal Basic Guys (Post-NFL) (Fox) 0.77
12. Notre Dame Football (NBC) 0.73
13. Marshals (CBS) 0.70
14. B1G Saturday Night Football (NBC) 0.67
15. Tracker (CBS) 0.66
16. High Potential (ABC) 0.64
17. NBA Sunday Night Basketball 
(NBC)
0.63
18. Scrubs (ABC) 0.61
19. Chicago Fire (NBC) 0.56
 American Idol (ABC) 0.56
 Abbott Elementary (ABC) 0.56
22. Ghosts (CBS) 0.55
23. Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (CBS) 0.53
24. The Rookie (ABC) 0.52
25. The Simpsons (Fox) 0.51
 Chicago P.D. (NBC) 0.51
 College Football Friday-Big 10 Prime (Fox) 0.51
 Shifting Gears (ABC) 0.51
29. 9-1-1 (ABC) 0.50
 Law & Order: SVU (NBC) 0.50
 The Amazing Race (CBS) 0.50
32. Impractical Jokers (TBS) 0.49
33. NBA Saturday Primetime (ABC) 0.48
 Chicago Med (NBC) 0.48
 Friday College Football-Big 12 (Fox) 0.48
36. Will Trent (ABC) 0.47
37. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins (NBC) 0.46
 Fear Factor: House of Fear (Fox) 0.46
39. NCIS (CBS) 0.43
 Matlock (CBS) 0.43
 The Neighborhood (CBS) 0.43
 FBI (CBS) 0.43
43. St. Denis Medical (NBC) 0.42
44.. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) 0.41
 Fox College Football – Big 12 (Fox) 0.41
 60 Minutes Presents (CBS) 0.41
47. Fox Saturday Baseball (Fox) 0.40
 9-1-1: Nashville (ABC) 0.40
 Memory of a Killer (Fox) 0.40
50. Sheriff Country (CBS) 0.39
51. The Voice (Tuesday) (NBC) 0.38
 The Masked Singer (Fox) 0.38
 Celebrity Jeopardy! (ABC) 0.38
 College Hoops Friday – Big 10 (Fox) 0.38
 Animal Control (Fox) 0.38
56. NBA Tuesday Regular Season (NBC) 0.37
57. Doc (Fox) 0.36
 Elsbeth (CBS) 0.36
 America’s Funniest Home Videos 7 p.m. (ABC) 0.36
60. WWE Smackdown (USA) 0.35
 Law & Order (NBC) 0.35
62. The Floor (NBC) 0.34
 Best Medicine (Fox) 0.34
 Next Level Chef (Fox) 0.34
 99 to Beat (Fox) 0.34
 Fire Country (CBS) 0.34
 America’s Culinary Cup (CBS) 0.34
 The Voice (NBC) 0.34
 DMV (CBS) 0.34
70. Dateline Friday (NBC) 0.33
 Hell’s Kitchen (Fox) 0.33
72. CIA (CBS) 0.32
 Happy’s Place (NBC) 0.32
 Hunting Party (NBC) 0.32
 Bob’s Burgers (Fox) 0.32
 The Price Is Right at Night — Wednesday (CBS) 0.32
 College Hoops — Big 10 Prime (Fox) 0.32
 NCIS: Origins (CBS) 0.32
 Family Guy (Sunday 9:30) (Fox) 0.32
80. 20/20 Friday (ABC) 0.31
 R.J. Decker (ABC) 0.31
 Boston Blue (CBS) 0.31
83. America’s Funniest Home Videos 8 p.m. (ABC) 0.30
84. Celebrity Wheel Of Fortune -Enc (ABC) 0.29
 1000-Lb. Sisters (TLC) 0.29
 Extracted (Fox) 0.29
 Family Guy (Fox) 0.29
 Special Forces (Fox) 0.29
89. Watson (CBS) 0.28
 Masterchef (Fox) 0.28
91. Stumble (NBC) 0.27
 The Golden Bachelor (ABC) 0.27
93. Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (ABC) 0.26
 AFV – So Many Laughs (ABC) 0.26
 Greatest Average American (ABC) 0.26
96. Universal Basic Guys (Fox) 0.25
97. 90 Day Fiance: Before the 90 Days (TLC) 0.24
 Shark Tank (ABC) 0.24
 Celebrity Jeopardy! Sunday (ABC) 0.24
 The Road (CBS) 0.24
Source: Nielsen National Live+7 Day Big Data Plus Panel Program Ratings for 2025-2026 Season (9/14/25 – 5/20/26). Includes pre-season premieres. Minimum four telecasts. Excludes programs less than 20 minutes and Spanish language.

HISTORICAL CHART RECORDS:

2012-2013 TV season

2013-2014 TV season

2014-2015 TV season

2015-2016 TV season

2016-2017 TV season

2017-2018 TV season

2018-2019 TV season

2019-2020 TV season

2020-2021 TV season

2021-2022 TV season

2022-2023 TV season

2023-2024 TV season

2024-2025 TV season


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