ARTICLE: CBS Set For Record-Breaking 17th Consecutive Broadcast Season Win Led By ‘Tracker,’ ‘Matlock’ & ’60 Minutes’

[Errol]

CBS is on track to win the 2024-2025 broadcast television season for the 17th consecutive season, with seven of the most-watched shows, including “Tracker” (10.84 million), “Matlock” (9.53 million), “60 Minutes” (8.45 million), “FBI” (8.11 million) and “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” (7.98 million).

Factoring in Nielsen’s “Most Current” ratings data, inclusive of Live+7  (09/23/2024 – 04/14/2025), Live+3 (04/15/2025 – 04/17/2025) and Live+Same Day (04/19/2025 – 04/20/2025), the network’s primetime lineup (excluding sports) averaged 4.99 million viewers, up +14% year over year, with 13 shows in the top 20, far exceeding its closest competitor NBC, which had just four shows, led by “Chicago Fire” (7.850 million).

This marks the longest winning streak ever for a broadcast network, surpassing the 15-season streak also held by CBS from 1955-1970. Overall, the network has ranked a solid No. 1 in primetime, winning 22 of the last 23 seasons.

What follows is a breakdown of how the network performed in primetime with the top 20 shows, sorted by Total Viewers.

2024/ 2025 Season-to-Date Primetime Broadcast Rankers

Rank / Show / Network	Total Viewers (In Millions)	# of Telecasts
1. Tracker (CBS)	10,840	17
2. Matlock (CBS)	9,530	17
3. 60 Minutes (CBS)	8,450	21
4. FBI (CBS)	8,110	18
5. Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (CBS)	7,980	17
6. Blue Bloods (CBS)	7,900	8
7. NCIS (CBS)	7,860	17
8. Chicago Fire (NBC)	7,850	18
9. Elsbeth (CBS)	7,780	17
10. Chicago Med (NBC)	7,560	18
11. Ghosts (CBS)	7,290	18
12. High Potential (ABC)	7,240	13
13. Chicago PD (NBC)	7,030	18
14. Will Trent (ABC)	6,890	14
15. Watson (CBS)	6,660	10
16. FBI: Most Wanted (CBS)	6,490	18
— FBI: International (CBS)	6,490	18
18. The Voice (NBC)	6,460	23
19. 9-1-1 (ABC)	6,330	15
20. Fire Country (CBS)	6,150	18

Source: Nielsen NPM

Outside of primetime, CBS is also leading in late night and daytime, with “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” ranking a solid No. 1 in late night for the ninth consecutive season, and the network’s daytime lineup topping the charts for the 39th consecutive season, led by “The Price is Right” and “The Young and the Restless.”

Note: The post CBS Set For Record-Breaking 17th Consecutive Broadcast Season Win Led By ‘Tracker,’ ‘Matlock’ & ’60 Minutes’ appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website.

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[Soapsuds]

FBI International is a top 20 show for CBS, yet they canceled it.

[Errol]

That's what happens when you are successful. What others see as a hit show, particularly if it were on another network, another sees as a burden on their network due to other shows performing better. See Blue Bloods: 14 seasons, ranks sixth for the season, yet still canceled. 

If we could start programming Saturdays again (with advertisers willing to pay good rates), we might see shows staying on longer. Sadly, that's not the case, and space is limited, as shown by CBS canceling "The Equalizer" earlier today.

[AMCOLTLLover]

Costs… it’s all about money! They want new fbi shows/spin-offs coz they are cheaper than a show in its 6th/7th/8th year. Actors getting more expensive etc. 
 

[Errol]

Oh, of course. I'm primarily referring to premiering new shows on Saturdays, lasting no more than five seasons each. This way, they can keep costs down and still air original programming. If anything breaks out beyond expectation (and far exceeding what they may promise advertisers), they can move the show to another night, in that case, to make more money.