The 2025-26 television season has concluded, and new insights from Nielsen's comprehensive multiplatform data reveal the most captivating shows across streaming services, traditional broadcast, and cable networks. This annual assessment provides a clear picture of viewer preferences, with science fiction epics, live sports, and competitive reality programs dominating the rankings. The landscape of television consumption continues to evolve, as evidenced by the strong performance of streaming originals alongside enduring linear favorites, offering a rich tapestry of content that engages millions across various platforms.
Nielsen's innovative multiplatform measurement, introduced just last year, now enables a direct comparison of audience engagement between streaming and linear television, moving beyond traditional metrics. For the 2025-26 season, the data, encompassing 35-day multiplatform viewership, crowned Netflix's 'Stranger Things' as the undisputed leader. Its final season captivated an average of 32.9 million viewers, cementing its status as a cultural phenomenon. This marks a consecutive year for Netflix at the top, following the success of 'Squid Game' in the prior season. While major sports events like 'Sunday Night Football' continue to draw immense linear audiences, they are typically excluded from these series-specific comparisons, allowing for a focused evaluation of scripted and unscripted entertainment programming.
Beyond Netflix's dominance, the multiplatform charts also highlighted CBS's 'Marshals,' a new entry in the 'Yellowstone' universe, as the top-performing broadcast show with 20.7 million viewers. Other notable entries in the multiplatform top 10 included CBS's 'Tracker,' ABC's 'High Potential,' HBO Max's 'The Pitt,' and Paramount+'s 'Landman,' demonstrating a diverse mix of platforms and genres resonating with audiences. Meanwhile, the more conventional Live+7 ratings for broadcast and cable revealed the enduring power of live sports, with NFL broadcasts predictably leading. In this traditional metric, 'Tracker' emerged as the leading entertainment program, while ABC's 'Dancing With the Stars' secured the top spot in the crucial 18-49 demographic. Interestingly, several episodes of Fox's 'Universal Basic Guys,' benefiting from post-NFL airings, also performed exceptionally well.
The season also saw several programs achieve unexpected highs and lows. HBO Max's medical drama 'The Pitt' transformed from a critical success that struggled to attract large audiences in its first year to a top-ten show in its second, showcasing the potential for delayed viewership growth. 'Dancing With the Stars' and 'Survivor' both experienced significant multiplatform audience growth, underscoring the comeback of established reality franchises. Emerging streaming platforms like Apple TV and Peacock also expanded their presence on the top 100 list, with new originals and revived classics like 'Scrubs' and 'Malcolm in the Middle' drawing substantial numbers. Conversely, '60 Minutes,' despite its historical significance and continued solid performance, faced an uncertain future due to questionable programming decisions by CBS leadership. Additionally, several highly-rated shows, such as Netflix's 'Boots' and CBS's 'Watson,' were unexpectedly canceled, baffling viewers and industry observers alike, often for reasons beyond simple viewership figures.
This comprehensive review of the 2025-26 television season's viewership trends provides a detailed snapshot of what captivated audiences. From the continued reign of streaming giants to the unexpected resurgence of traditional network hits and the emergence of new content, the data underscores a dynamic and ever-changing entertainment landscape. The insights gleaned from Nielsen's multiplatform and Live+7 rankings offer valuable perspectives for understanding the complex interplay between content, platform, and audience engagement in the modern era of television.
