For the second year in a row, a Netflix series has claimed the top spot in television viewership, while CBS has emerged as a leader among broadcast networks, boasting multiple popular programs. The 2025-26 season's cross-platform ratings reveal a dynamic shift in audience engagement across various viewing mediums, with streaming services significantly impacting traditional television.
The data, compiled through April 12 and encompassing 35 days of viewership, unequivocally positions Netflix's 'Stranger Things' as the most-watched show. Its final season garnered an impressive 32.9 million viewers, surpassing its closest competitor, 'His & Hers,' by a substantial margin of 7.3 million. This continued success for 'Stranger Things' underscores Netflix's powerful influence in attracting and retaining a massive audience.
Meanwhile, CBS has demonstrated robust performance within the broadcast television landscape. 'Marshals' stood out as the leading network program, securing the third overall position with 20.7 million viewers midway through its inaugural season. Other CBS productions, such as 'Tracker' (16.4 million) and ABC's 'High Potential' (16 million), also achieved top-ten rankings, benefiting from significant streaming audiences alongside their traditional broadcasts.
An analysis of the top 25 series (excluding live sports) reveals CBS originating eight of these popular shows, often bolstered by their availability on Paramount+. Netflix contributed seven shows, all of which landed within the top 15. ABC, with its content accessible on Hulu and Disney+, accounted for four entries. Prime Video and Paramount+ each had two original series among the top performers, while HBO Max and NBC/Peacock each secured one spot. This distribution highlights the diverse avenues through which audiences are consuming content.
Earlier measurements over 28 days had already shown 'Stranger Things 5' leading the charts with 30.6 million viewers, indicating that an additional week of data collection added 2.3 million viewers to its total. 'His & Hers' also saw an increase of 1.4 million viewers, and Paramount+'s 'Landman' gained approximately 900,000 viewers, reaching a total of 19.8 million. These figures underscore the importance of extended viewing windows in capturing the full scope of audience engagement.
Examining broadcast series alone, CBS commanded more than half of the top 25 shows, excluding sports programming. If live NFL telecasts were factored in, NBC's 'Sunday Night Football' would rank first with 23.5 million cross-platform viewers, and ABC and ESPN's 'Monday Night Football' would place fourth with nearly 16 million viewers. These statistics demonstrate the enduring appeal of live sports, even as scripted content on both traditional and streaming platforms continues to capture significant audiences.
The 2025-26 television season has clearly illustrated the evolving dynamics of viewership, with Netflix continuing its strong showing and CBS making a significant impact across multiple platforms. The success of both streaming and broadcast leaders suggests a future where diverse content offerings and flexible viewing options are key to capturing and maintaining audience attention.
