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What Is The #1 Show On U.S. Network TV This Year?
Network television is a shadow of its former self, thanks to streaming and the Internet.
But there are still eyeballs on the old screen yet, just perhaps not as many as there used to be.
Matt Webb Mitovich, formerly of TV Line, has put together a list of the Top 20 TV shows by ratings for 2025. I believe #1 was also in the lead last year, but there are a few other familiar names on the list. Keep in mind these are all non-sports programming, because that leads OTA by a huge margin and while many of them are down a bit from 2024, they still have a sizeable audience.
And of course, this is the U.S. list. The numbers are obviously different in Canada, but it's the American ratings that determine if a show gets renewed or not. Safe to say, many of those displayed below will likely be back next year if the payroll economics make sense.
Did your favourite make the list?
MOST-WATCHED NON-SPORTS SHOWS
1. Tracker (CBS), 10.5 million viewers (-4% vs. last season)
2. 60 Minutes (CBS), 10.04 million (+21%)
3. High Potential (ABC), 7.63 million (+7%)
4. Matlock (CBS), 7.56 million (-21%)
4. Dancing With the Stars (ABC), 7.56 million (+29%)
6. NCIS (CBS), 7.34 million (-7%)
7. Chicago Fire (NBC), 7 million (-10%)
8. Chicago Med (NBC), 6.95 million (-7%)
9. Georgie & Mandy (CBS), 6.85 million (-13%)
10. Boston Blue (CBS), 6.46 million (-18% vs. Blue Bloods)
11. Elsbeth (CBS), 6.32 million (-18%)
12. Ghosts (CBS), 6.27 million (-13%)
13. Sheriff Country (CBS), 6.23 million (+29% vs. S.W.A.T S8A)
14. Chicago P.D. (NBC), 6.22 million (-11%)
15. FBI (CBS), 6.13 million (-24%)
16. The Voice: Tuesday (NBC), 5.86 million (+4%)
17. NCIS: Origins (CBS), 5.65 million (-7%%)
18. The Voice: Monday (NBC), 5.54 million (-3%)
19. Survivor (CBS), 5.52 million (-8%)
20. 9-1-1 (ABC), 5.32 million (-16%)
- Shorty Wave
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Re: What Is The #1 Show On U.S. Network TV This Year?
I guess I don’t watch enough TV as the only show I’ve watched listed here is 60 Minutes. My family though watches Chicago Fire/Med, both NCISs, Sheriff Country and Chicago P.D. I’m more of a sports watcher but that’s dropping off based on local teams’ performances!
- mic'em
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My favourite show of the list is NCIS: Origins. It is just so well produced . I am also DVR'ing The Rockford Files daily and watching it in the evening. Thank you CHCH for airing it.
- Tq345
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mic'em wrote:
My favourite show of the list is NCIS: Origins. It is just so well produced . I am also DVR'ing The Rockford Files daily and watching it in the evening. Thank you CHCH for airing it.
I'm enjoying Rockford too. I'll admit a lot of the scripts/plots from season one have been a bit weak, but they'll get better.
Mostly, I just like watching Jim ride around 1970s LA in that copper coloured Firebird being chased my any manner of ne'er do wells. I'm still waiting for a full blown Rockford J Turn that the show was famous for.
Plus, most episodes feature a familiar face or two from the 70s and 80s.
- mace
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Of that list, the only shows I watch are 60 Minutes, High Potential, 911 and the three Chicago's. No interest at all in what CBS is offering in scripted shows.
- mic'em
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Re: What Is The #1 Show On U.S. Network TV This Year?
My favourite show of the list is NCIS: Origins. It is just so well produced . I am also DVR'ing The Rockford Files daily and watching it in the evening. Thank you CHCH for airing it.
I'm enjoying Rockford too. I'll admit a lot of the scripts/plots from season one have been a bit weak, but they'll get better.
Mostly, I just like watching Jim ride around 1970s LA in that copper coloured Firebird being chased my any manner of ne'er do wells. I'm still waiting for a full blown Rockford J Turn that the show was famous for.
Plus, most episodes feature a familiar face or two from the 70s and 80s.
Interesting note on James Garner, he did all his own stunt driving in the series. As well as the movie Gran Prix he starred in , released in 1966.
- paterson1
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I have watched Tracker, George & Mandy, and check out 60 Minutes to see what they are covering. Tracker wasn't bad the three episodes I have looked at. George & Mandy only twice and didn't find it particularly funny. High Potential looks promising from the bits I have seen. All of the cop and medical dramas don't interest me, and not a big fan of reality TV. I am watching Crave and HBO much more now for entertainment programming than traditional broadcast TV.
- Tq345
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Re: What Is The #1 Show On U.S. Network TV This Year?
My favourite show of the list is NCIS: Origins. It is just so well produced . I am also DVR'ing The Rockford Files daily and watching it in the evening. Thank you CHCH for airing it.
I'm enjoying Rockford too. I'll admit a lot of the scripts/plots from season one have been a bit weak, but they'll get better.
Mostly, I just like watching Jim ride around 1970s LA in that copper coloured Firebird being chased my any manner of ne'er do wells. I'm still waiting for a full blown Rockford J Turn that the show was famous for.
Plus, most episodes feature a familiar face or two from the 70s and 80s.Interesting note on James Garner, he did all his own stunt driving in the series. As well as the movie Gran Prix he starred in , released in 1966.
I believe the racing experts that worked on Grand Prix said of all the actors in the film, Garner could have actually been competitive in a real race.
Garner joins other actors/racing enthusiasts like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and Patrick Dempsey.
- turkeytop
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With the exception of 60 minutes, it's hard to belive any of those shows even made it into the Top 500.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- RadioActive
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Re: What Is The #1 Show On U.S. Network TV This Year?
ABC's High Potential is one of the highest rated new shows on network TV in several years. It's on hiatus for the holiday season but will be back in January.
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Thread Starter- newsguy1
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Re: What Is The #1 Show On U.S. Network TV This Year?
John Frankenheimers' "Grand Prix" is one of my fave movies of all time.
Amazing cast, including James Garner
I read once that the role of Pete Aaron was originally offered to Steve McQueen, but he turned it down, then forever regretted it.
Another fun fact.
Frankenheimer shot the Monaco racing sequences early in the morning in Monaco one the same day as the real Grand Prix was supposed to be tun in the afternoon
- mic'em
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Yes, I have read that McQueen facto as well. His Bullitt chase in the 68 Mustang is still considered the best ever filmed of all time. It's amazing even watching it on a tv screen, how it can make a persons stomach feel the effects of the up and down of the San Fran hills.