100 Most-Watched TV Series of 2024-25 Across Streaming, Broadcast and Cable: ‘Squid Game’ Leads This Season’s Rankers

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It’s no longer surprising to hear “broadcast is back,” as it seems to have always been a constant presence in our entertainment landscape. Just take a look at the long-running series like “NCIS,” “Law & Order: SVU,” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” which have been airing for decades – even before Netflix gained notoriety for delivering DVDs to your doorstep.

Furthermore, it’s worth acknowledging that this year has seen a revival in network TV. The traditional linear channels have had a particularly successful season – “High Potential” on ABC and “Matlock” on CBS were among the most popular new shows. Interestingly, “Tracker” on CBS came in third place overall, trailing only behind the Netflix sensations “Squid Game” and “Adolescence.”

This year has seen a resurgence of network TV. Two of the top new shows were “High Potential” on ABC and “Matlock” on CBS. “Tracker” on CBS was very popular, too, just behind Netflix hits like “Squid Game” and “Adolescence.

We now have insights into the performance of shows across various platforms, as Nielsen’s multiplatform ratings have been released for the first time since the commencement of the streaming era. This means we can make fair comparisons between shows airing on different television channels. These new metrics provide a comprehensive view of what audiences are tuning into on traditional TV, streaming services, or a combination of both. For those who enjoy tracking the most-watched television series, this development significantly alters the competitive landscape.

The Nielsen data, encompassing 35 days of both traditional TV and streaming viewership, reveals that the show “High Potential” debuted to 8.2 million viewers on ABC through linear TV, subsequently increasing to approximately 7.9 million viewers on Hulu’s streaming platform, resulting in a combined average audience of 16.1 million viewers. Meanwhile, “Matlock” opened with 10.5 million viewers on CBS and picked up an additional 5.5 million viewers via Paramount+.

The Nielsen multiplatform statistics, which track both traditional TV and streaming viewership over a period of 35 days, demonstrate that the series “High Potential” began with 8.2 million viewers on ABC’s linear television service, climbed to approximately 7.9 million viewers on Hulu’s streaming platform, and overall garnered an average audience of 16.1 million viewers. In contrast, “Matlock” commenced with 10.5 million viewers on CBS and attracted an additional 5.5 million viewers via Paramount+.

A noticeable discrepancy is evident when considering younger age groups, since a larger proportion of individuals below 50 tend to watch traditional TV programs through their streaming service providers rather than directly.

The data supports the fact that Netflix is indeed a colossal player in the field, as previously assumed. Unlike previous years where only linear broadcast and cable networks were considered for the annual ranking of popular television series, this time we’re excited to present a broader list encompassing all the most-watched shows during the 2024-25 TV season.

While it’s not a comprehensive list, you’ll notice that sports programs like NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” ABC/ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” and Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” are missing. However, given the NFL’s dominance on television, it’s no surprise. Let’s concentrate on the variety of entertainment content instead.

Furthermore, as this graph spans 35 days, the deadline was set in early April. It’s important to note that significant amounts of television programming air during late April and early May, which is worth keeping in mind. Apart from “High Potential” and “Matlock,” here are some standout shows (and a few less successful ones) from the recently concluded TV season.

WINNERS

According to Nielsen’s multiplatform data, it’s clear that Netflix reigns supreme in television viewing. In fact, half of the season’s top 10 shows (excluding sports) can be found on Netflix. The second season of “Squid Game” was the most-viewed series of the season with a staggering 27.1 million viewers, while the limited series “Adolescence” came in second with 19 million. Additionally, Netflix boasts the most-watched comedy of the year with “Nobody Wants This.” And speaking of that…

Television Comedy
It’s clear that laughter has returned to our television screens. Shows like “Nobody Wants This,” “Running Point,” and “A Man on the Inside” (all from Netflix), along with CBS’ “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” and “Ghosts,” are currently trending. Notably, all these shows are in their debut seasons except for “Ghosts.” This means they will be airing for a considerable period. Interestingly, “Ghosts” has already been renewed for another two seasons! Additionally, “Abbott Elementary” continues to be a huge success in the ratings.

‘The individual referred to as Ms. Rachel is a popular YouTube personality who produces preschool-focused videos that encourage singing, dancing, and play. On average, she attracts 11.5 million viewers for her programs, which are also available on Netflix. So, “Bluey,” it seems you have some competition.’

Veterans of reality TV shows continue to shine. Notably, “Survivor” seasons 48 and 47 ranked among the most popular reality series this season. Additionally, “The Voice,” “American Idol,” “Dancing With the Stars,” and “The Amazing Race” also found themselves in the top 100. (Impressive for shows that have been on TV for so long!) For instance, “American Idol” recorded its highest viewership in two years during its latest finale as reported by ABC. A round of applause is due for more recent hits like “The Floor,” “Is It Cake? Holiday,” “Beast Games,” “Love is Blind,” and “Love on the Spectrum U.S.” All these shows managed to make it onto the chart as well.

LOSERS

Even when struggling, it’s hard not to feel sympathetic for cable, but the highest-ranked cable series on the list was “Yellowstone” from Paramount Network, and it managed this feat with some help from CBS.

CBS made some adjustments in their lineup this year, deciding to end three dramas that were consistently ranking among the top 30 TV shows with both broadcast and digital views. Alongside them, ABC’s “Dr. Odyssey” remains uncertain about its future despite maintaining a good audience base.

Younger demographics are gravitating towards streaming content: Traditional broadcasting may be making a comeback, but it’s important to note that the term “linear” refers to traditional television programming. While total viewers continue to contribute significantly to the success of broadcast networks, the story is quite different when we look at demographics. For instance, the top-rated broadcast show this season in terms of 18-49 demographic (dubbed “High Potential”) attracts an average of 5.2 million viewers from this age group – with 4.2 million coming from streaming platforms and only 1 million from linear television. The disparity is even more pronounced in premium cable, as exemplified by “The White Lotus,” the fifth most-watched show of the year, which boasts 6.5 million viewers overall. Out of these viewers, a mere 325,000 watched on linear TV, while a staggering 6.2 million tuned in via streaming platforms. A similar trend can be observed with “The Penguin,” where only 165,000 out of its 4.7 million average viewers in the 18-49 demographic watched through linear television.

America’s most-watched series of the 2024-2025 season are …


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TOP 100 SHOWS OF 2024-25, TOTAL VIEWERS

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2025-05-29 22:50