Nielsen has unveiled its inaugural 35-day multiplatform ratings for the entire 2024-25 TV season, offering a comprehensive look at viewership across both linear and streaming platforms.
The data, which tracks viewership over 35 days across broadcast, cable, and streaming services, provides an unprecedented apples-to-apples comparison of how audiences are consuming TV today. Unsurprisingly, Netflix emerged as the leader, but the resilience of broadcast TV — and the power of a symbiotic relationship between linear and streaming — has turned heads.
Netflix solidified its dominance with two juggernauts at the top of the rankings: Squid Game Season 2, which drew an impressive 27.1 million average viewers, and Adolescence, a breakout limited series that garnered 19 million viewers.
These numbers cement Netflix’s grip on the streaming landscape, with the platform claiming 10 of the top 20 most-watched shows, including comedies like Nobody Wants This (15.2 million viewers) and dramas such as Monsters: The Lyle & Erik Menendez Story (15.7 million).
However, broadcast TV proved it’s far from obsolete, with two of the season’s most-watched new shows originating on traditional networks. ABC’s High Potential and CBS’s Matlock both tied for fifth place overall, each averaging 16.1 million viewers across their linear broadcasts and streaming partners.
High Potential started with 8.2 million viewers on ABC’s linear broadcast, then nearly doubled its audience with an additional 7.9 million viewers on Hulu, showcasing the power of streaming to amplify broadcast reach.
Similarly, Matlock launched with 10.5 million viewers on CBS and added 5.5 million more via Paramount+, highlighting how strategic partnerships between networks and their streaming counterparts can drive massive viewership.
CBS also celebrated a strong showing with Tracker, which secured third place overall with 17.4 million viewers, trailing only Netflix’s top two. The Justin Hartley-led procedural has been a standout, not only as the most-watched broadcast series but also as a testament to broadcast TV’s enduring appeal when paired with streaming availability on Paramount+. CBS as a network averaged 9.1 million viewers in primetime, leading all broadcast networks, followed by NBC (7.2 million) and ABC (6.9 million).
The data also reveals broader trends in viewer preferences. Comedies are thriving across platforms, with Netflix’s Running Point (13.1 million) and A Man on the Inside (12.4 million) joining CBS’s Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and Ghosts (both at 12.1 million) in the top 20.
This resurgence of comedy underscores a universal demand for lighthearted, digestible content—or what some might call “brain candy” — that transcends platform boundaries. Reality TV, too, remains a perennial favorite, with long-running formats continuing to draw audiences on both linear and streaming platforms, proving their timeless appeal in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.
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While Netflix’s dominance is undeniable, the success of broadcast shows like High Potential, Matlock, and Tracker highlights a key insight: the future of TV lies in the synergy between linear and streaming. Networks that leverage their streaming partners to extend their reach are reaping the rewards, bridging the gap between traditional and modern viewing habits. As the 2024-25 season data shows, linear broadcasting may be evolving, but it’s far from being buried.
