2025-2026 TV Season Multiplatform Ratings
· news
The Streaming Wars Take a Backseat to Broadcast’s Resurgence
The latest Nielsen ratings figures confirm what many in the industry had been whispering about: the 2025-2026 TV season saw a remarkable resurgence of broadcast television, not just in terms of viewership but also in its ability to compete with streaming behemoths. While Netflix still dominates the non-sports landscape, with “Stranger Things” retaining its top spot with 32.9 million viewers, the real story lies elsewhere.
The most-watched broadcast show was CBS’s “Marshals,” pulling in a staggering 19.3 million viewers across all platforms. Four new CBS series made it onto the chart, with “Marshals” and “Sheriff Country” emerging as particularly strong newcomers. This marks a significant shift from previous seasons, where streaming services like Netflix and Hulu seemed poised to disrupt the traditional broadcast model.
CBS’s success is striking in its breadth. Not only did they dominate the broadcast charts with four out of the top five series, but they also boasted the top-rated comedy in “Ghosts.” Meanwhile, ABC fared well among adults 18-49 with “High Potential” and had the most-watched comedy in that demographic with “Abbott Elementary.”
Taylor Sheridan’s influence on this trend is evident. As creator of Yellowstone and Landman, he has been instrumental in bringing rugged, small-town storytelling to a wide audience. His brand of serialized dramas has resonated with viewers, with multiple series making the cut, including Paramount+’s “Landman” and Paramount Network’s “Dutton Ranch.”
The implications of these ratings are far-reaching. Networks may need to rethink their streaming strategies, focusing on developing content that complements their broadcast offerings rather than cannibalizing them. This could lead to a more nuanced understanding of the role that streaming services play in the media ecosystem.
As networks begin to focus on producing high-quality, serialized dramas, they will face the challenge of navigating increasingly complex viewing habits. This trend has significant implications for content creation and distribution, and it remains to be seen how networks will adapt.
The 2025-2026 TV season was a watershed moment for broadcast television. Viewers are still tuning in for their favorite broadcast shows, and that’s not going away anytime soon. As we move forward into the next season, one thing is clear – the traditional model has found new life, and it will be fascinating to see how streaming services adapt in response.
The question on everyone’s mind now is: what will the 2026-2027 season bring? Will Taylor Sheridan continue to dominate the charts with his small-town dramas? Can Netflix reclaim its dominance over broadcast television?
Reader Views
- CSCorrespondent S. Tan · field correspondent
This resurgence of broadcast TV raises questions about the viability of streaming services' long-term business models. While Netflix still holds a strong position in non-sports programming, its dominance comes at a cost: high production budgets and saturated content offerings that struggle to yield meaningful profit margins. The real story here is not just CBS's success, but also the fragmentation of audiences across multiple platforms, making it increasingly difficult for streaming services to recoup their investments.
- CMColumnist M. Reid · opinion columnist
The Nielsen ratings are in and broadcast TV is making a triumphant comeback, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves here. While CBS's dominance and Taylor Sheridan's influence on the small-town drama trend are undeniable, there's more to this resurgence than meets the eye. The real question is: can these networks sustain their momentum? With so many streaming services vying for attention, it's easy to get caught up in the hype of broadcast TV's resurgence, but we still need to see if they can keep the numbers climbing without cannibalizing their own success.
- RJReporter J. Avery · staff reporter
The resurgence of broadcast TV in the 2025-2026 season is more than just a blip on the radar - it's a seismic shift that demands attention from streaming services and networks alike. While Netflix still reigns supreme in terms of overall viewership, CBS's dominance across all platforms suggests a fundamental change in viewer behavior. Networks are starting to realize that their best bets lie not in competing directly with streaming behemoths, but rather in developing content that complements their broadcast offerings, creating a hybrid model that benefits from the strengths of both worlds.