In the broadcast ratings game for the 2024-25 TV season (not counting sports viewership, of course), CBS dominates with an average of 9.1 million viewers across linear and streaming, with NBC coming in second with 7.2 million. ABC comes in third with 6.9 million and Fox is second with 4.3 million.
However, ABC is second when it comes to the most-watched series in primetime on the air, with six of the top 20 (behind CBS’s 11). According to Nielsen, the network’s top shows in primetime viewership across broadcast and streaming (with a 35-day multiplatform time slot) were: High Potential, tied for second with CBS’ Matlock (with 16.1 million average viewers); Will Trent ranked sixth (11.6 million), 9-1-1 ranked ninth (11.2 million); Shifting Gears ranked 10th (11.1 million), The Rookie ranked 11th (10.7 million) and Abbott Elementary ranked 20th (8.9 million). ABC revealed that High Potential has become the network’s best-performing streaming show, based on seven-day viewership on Disney+ and Hulu, while the May 1 funeral episode of 9-1-1 drew 9.18 million viewers, its highest since November 2024.
Of the shows this season, only one has been canceled by ABC so far: The Conners, which ended its run with its Season 7 finale in April and averaged 3.089 million viewers for the season. Still in doubt for the network is Doctor Odyssey, the new Ryan Murphy-produced medical drama that ended in mid-May with an average (so far) of 3.050 million viewers for the season. The show has already surpassed the network’s flagship series Grey’s Anatomy, which averaged 2.2 million viewers per episode during Season 21 — but has been officially renewed — in its new 10/9c timeslot.
ABC is keeping its unscripted series alive in the 2024-25 season, with American Idol leading the way (4.932 million Sunday viewers, 4.190 million Monday viewers). The network has touted the season finale as its most-watched show in two years with 6.51 million total viewers.
Dancing With the Stars is right behind (4.877 million), followed by America’s Funniest Home Videos (3.854 million), The Golden Bachelorette (2.815 million), Shark Tank (2.811 million), Celebrity Wheel of Fortune (2.766 million), Jeopardy! Masters (2.65 million), The Bachelor (2.606 million) and 20/20 (2.450 million).
