CBS is currently in an era of unprecedented network television dominance. By the time the 2024-25 broadcast season ends, the Eye Network will be crowned as the top broadcaster among all viewers in primetime for the 17th season in a row via Nielsen ratings, dating back to the 2008-09 season. The streak marks a new record for sustained success on television, besting the previous high watermark of 16 consecutive seasons at #1 set by CBS back in 1955-70. Considering the measures of viewership have changed significantly since then, it's an impressive feat for the network to keep ahead of the competition for so long. Notably, there are still a few weeks left in the broadcast season, too, meaning that its lead over the other networks for the September to May season, thanks to top shows like Tracker and Matlock, is large enough that the rankings aren't likely to shift, barring a miracle.
As of April 20, CBS was averaging 5.72 million viewers in primetime with its programming by Nielsen's "most current" ratings, a slight bump from last year's average of 5.59 million and considerably ahead of second-place NBC at 5.1 million viewers. The lead is extra impressive when considering that this season has been good for broadcast television all around. Every network, save for ABC, which stayed around the same viewership, gained in its ratings from the previous year. Moreover, ignoring sports gives the eye an even bigger advantage over the competition, with 4.99 million average primetime viewers stacking up against NBC's 4 million, ABC's 3.58 million, and Fox's 2.16 million. However you slice it, the win is impressive for CBS.
A look at the top ten most viewed programs shows just how much the network has thrived when it comes to scripted programming and news. The ranking has CBS nabbing the top seven spots and eight of the top ten with its shows, starting with Justin Hartley's Tracker in its second season, the Kathy Bates-led Matlock, and then the stalwart news program 60 Minutes. Also making the top ten for the network are FBI in fourth, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage in fifth, Blue Bloods in sixth, NCIS in seventh, and Elsbeth in ninth. Only NBC's Chicago Fire and Chicago Med managed to sneak in amid the crowded CBS field. Perhaps most promising for the network's future is that it's not just being carried by old favorites either. Matlock and Georgie & Mandy were in their inaugural seasons and earned swift renewals due to their success, while Tracker and Elsbeth only continue to grow in their sophomore outings.
'Tracker' Has Been the Center of CBS's Success
While there have been impressive ratings highs across the board, like Matlock recently drawing a staggering 17 million viewers on average across platforms in Live+35 ratings as of its finale, the big winner has always been Tracker. The series was a breakout hit in 2024, and, with Season 2 being even bigger, it's repeating as the top-rated primetime program on television and stands as the only broadcast series to average over 10 million viewers before streaming is calculated. Colter Shaw's adventures as a lone wolf survivalist finding missing people have been hard to beat, though the premiere of the Morris Chestnut-led Watson, also a CBS show, managed that feat with 18.7 million viewers tuning in over 35 days. Still, with a consistent winner like Tracker leading the way and a deep bench of popular shows behind it, the Eye Network will be hard for any broadcaster to beat in the coming years.
Stay tuned here at Collider for more on the future of CBS and its biggest shows. Tracker, Matlock, and more can be streamed on Paramount+.
