The 2025-2026 television season began on Monday, September 22. With that, Nielsen formally introduced an adjusted tracking method called Big Data + Panel, which the measurement service notes will “bring human insights to the numbers in big data sets.”

In addition to the 101,000 real people from the 42,000 households already tracked by Nielsen (the Panel), the new tracking method encompasses approximately 45 million Big Data households and 75 million devices from Comcast, Dish, DIRECTV, Roku and Vizio. “This yields a person-level measurement that is representative of the larger population at scale,” Nielsen notes, saying the impressions across screens allow a correction for “biases and other gaps” in its tracking.

As a result, going forward, all national reporting for the current season will be based on Nielsen’s Big Data + Panel numbers, with prior figures compared against Nielsen’s Panel-only audience measurement unless otherwise noted.

Despite the change in its tracking method, an initial assessment by Soap Opera Network indicates numbers for the week of September 22-26, 2025, as shown in the charts below (This Week), are in line with prior averages (Last Week and 2024 columns). Additionally, Big Data appears to favor news/talk programming more so than scripted dramas and game shows, which historically see lifts among delayed viewership (Live+3 and Live+7). Unfortunately, delayed figures are not currently available to this publication. Figures below continue to utilize Live+Same Day viewing.

For the week, “The Price is Right” and “Let’s Make a Deal” launched Season 54 and Season 17, respectively, on CBS. The former remained on top across all key categories, while the latter came back to originals relatively on par with its year ago performance.

Among Women 18-49, “Beyond the Gates” tied its series low with a 0.14 rating, while with its 0.17 rating, “The Young and the Restless” dropped below both “The Bold and the Beautiful” (0.20 rating) and “General Hospital” (0.18 rating).

Three of the four network soaps set new series lows among Women 25-54, starting with “Beyond the Gates” (0.23 rating), followed by “The Bold and the Beautiful” (0.31 rating) and “The Young and the Restless” (0.32 rating). “General Hospital” tied its series low (0.25 rating).

Except for “Beyond the Gates,” all daytime broadcast shows saw week-to-week gains among Total Viewers, led by “GMA3” (up +176,000), “NBC News Daily” (up +145,000), originals of “The Price is Right” (up +181,000 and +102,000, respectively), originals of “Let’s Make a Deal” (up +100,000 and +115,000, respectively), “The View (up +105,000) and “General Hospital” (up +94,000). “The Young and the Restless” saw a gain of just +7,000 viewers week-to-week, while “The Bold and the Beautiful” was up +35,000.

Wrap-Up

What follows is a breakdown of how the daytime broadcast shows performed during the week of September 22-26, 2025 among Women 18-49 rating, Women 25-54 rating, Households and Total Viewers, including week-to-week and year-over-year comparisons.

Note*: Figures under the 2024 column for “Beyond the Gates” are compared to the performance of the former time slot occupant, “The Talk.” “TODAY with Jenna & Friends” is compared with the performance of its predecessor, “TODAY with Hoda & Jenna.” Meanwhile, “GMA3” is compared with the performance of its predecessor, “GMA3: What You Need to Know.”

“The Price is Right” and “Let’s Make a Deal” aired repeats during the week of September 15-19, 2025 (Last Week).

Last Week and 2024 columns are based on Nielsen Panel-only data. Comparisons under the 2024 column among Households and Total Viewers were unavailable to this publication for most daytime broadcast shows until at least February 2025.

Households and Total Viewers were not available at press time for “TODAY 3rd Hour” or “TODAY with Jenna & Friends.” Rankings will be updated as soon as those figures become available.

Week of September 22-26, 2025 Rankers (Week 1)

Women 18-49 Rating

Rank / Show / Network	This Week	Last Week*	2024*
1. The Price is Right 2 (CBS)	0.26	0.33*	0.32
2. The Price is Right 1 (CBS)	0.24	0.27*	0.30
3. TODAY with Jenna & Friends (NBC)	0.22	0.16	0.23*
— Let’s Make a Deal 2 (CBS)	0.22	NR*	0.21
5. The View (ABC)	0.21	0.22	0.20
6. The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)	0.20	0.22	0.22
— TODAY 3rd Hour (NBC)	0.20	0.20	0.27
8. General Hospital (ABC)	0.18	0.18	0.20
— Let’s Make a Deal 1 (CBS)	0.18	NR*	0.20
10. The Young and the Restless (CBS)	0.17	0.22	0.20
11. Beyond the Gates (CBS)	0.14	0.18	0.13*
12. GMA3 (ABC)	0.13	0.11	0.15*
13. NBC News Daily (NBC)	0.11	0.12	0.16

Source: Nielsen (Live+Same Day, Big Data + Panel) – September 22-26, 2025

Women 25-54 Rating

Rank / Show / Network	This Week	Last Week*	2024*
1. The Price is Right 2 (CBS)	0.48	0.55*	0.50
2. The Price is Right 1 (CBS)	0.43	0.48*	0.46
3. TODAY with Jenna & Friends (NBC)	0.35	0.29	0.33*
4. TODAY 3rd Hour (NBC)	0.34	0.37	0.40
— Let’s Make a Deal 2 (CBS)	0.34	NR*	0.31
6. The Young and the Restless (CBS)	0.32	0.41	0.39
7. The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)	0.31	0.39	0.36
— The View (ABC)	0.31	0.34	0.29
9. Let’s Make a Deal 1 (CBS)	0.29	NR*	0.27
10. General Hospital (ABC)	0.25	0.30	0.30
11. Beyond the Gates (CBS)	0.23	0.30	0.20*
12. NBC News Daily (NBC)	0.19	0.19	0.25
13. GMA3 (ABC)	0.18	0.18	0.20*

Source: Nielsen (Live+Same Day, Big Data + Panel) – September 22-26, 2025

Households

Rank / Show / Network	This Week	Last Week*	2024*
1. The Price is Right 2 (CBS)	2.4	2.2*	N/A*
2. The Price is Right 1 (CBS)	2.2	2.0*	N/A*
3. The Young and the Restless (CBS)	1.8	1.8	N/A*
4. The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)	1.6	1.6	N/A*
— The View (ABC)	1.6	1.5	1.7
6. Let’s Make a Deal 2 (CBS)	1.5	1.4*	N/A*
7. General Hospital (ABC)	1.3	1.2	N/A*
— Let’s Make a Deal 1 (CBS)	1.3	1.2*	N/A*
9. Beyond the Gates (CBS)	1.0	1.0	0.8*
10. GMA3 (ABC)	0.9	0.8	N/A*
11. NBC News Daily (NBC)	0.8	0.7	0.8
N/A. TODAY 3rd Hour (NBC)	N/A*	N/A*	1.3
N/A. TODAY with Jenna & Friends (NBC)	N/A*	N/A*	0.9*

Source: Nielsen (Live+Same Day, Big Data + Panel) – September 22-26, 2025

Total Viewers (In Millions)

Rank / Show / Network	This Week	Last Week*	2024*
1. The Price is Right 2 (CBS)	4,081	3,900*	N/A*
2. The Price is Right 1 (CBS)	3,560	3,458*	N/A*
3. The Young and the Restless (CBS)	2,850	2,843	N/A*
4. The Bold and the Beautiful (CBS)	2,580	2,545	N/A*
5. Let’s Make a Deal 2 (CBS)	2,405	2,305*	N/A*
6. The View (ABC)	2,404	2,299	2,441
7. Let’s Make a Deal 1 (CBS)	2,062	1,947*	N/A*
8. General Hospital (ABC)	1,997	1,903	N/A*
9. Beyond the Gates (CBS)	1,546	1,604	1,206*
10. GMA3 (ABC)	1,377	1,201	1,360*
11. NBC News Daily (NBC)	1,276	1,131	1,247
N/A. TODAY 3rd Hour (NBC)	N/A*	N/A*	1,871
N/A. TODAY with Jenna & Friends (NBC)	N/A*	N/A*	1,345*

Source: Nielsen (Live+Same Day, Big Data + Panel) – September 22-26, 2025

The numbers above are calculated using Live+Same Day, Big Data + Panel viewing and DVR playback, defined as 3:00 a.m.-3:00 a.m., and are courtesy of Nielsen. Ratings are the percentage of TV viewers in the U.S. who tuned into a specific television program.

Beginning August 31, 2020, national ratings include Out of Home (OOH) viewing. Previously, ratings did not include OOH viewing. Averages are based on regular telecasts.

LEGEND

P = Premiere	R = Repeat	S = Special
NR = Not Rated / Not Ranked	N/A = Not Available	* denotes further information

Summary (Preemptions/Schedule Changes)*

• “General Hospital” aired for just 53 minutes on Tuesday, September 23 due to ongoing ABC News coverage of President Trump’s remarks at the United Nations.  The show’s weekly average is based on five days (Monday through Friday).
• “The View” aired for just 49 minutes on Tuesday, September 23 due to ongoing ABC News coverage of President Trump’s remarks at the United Nations.  The show’s weekly average is based on five days (Monday through Friday).
• “TODAY 3rd Hour” was retitled to “TODAY Show II-NBC” due to ongoing NBC News coverage of President Trump’s remarks at the United Nations.  The retitled telecast is excluded from the show’s weekly average. The show’s weekly average is based on four days (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday).
• “TODAY with Jenna & Friends” was retitled to “TODAY Jenna & Friends-JF” due to ongoing NBC News coverage of President Trump’s remarks at the United Nations.  The retitled telecast is excluded from the show’s weekly average. The show’s weekly average is based on four days (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday).
• Households and Total Viewers were not available at press time for “TODAY 3rd Hour” or “TODAY with Jenna & Friends.”

Note: The post ‘The View’ & ‘GMA3’ Mark Substantial Growth; ‘The Price Is Right’ & ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ Return Strong – RATINGS first appeared on Soap Opera Network.

 

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Thank you, Errol.

Not surprising numbers.

Seeing Y&R that far down on any list is stunning.

33 minutes ago, Faulkner said:

Seeing Y&R that far down on any list is stunning.

Maybe.,..but probably not...they'll finally figure out that no one wants to watch people sit around and talk about who is going to work at what random company for weeks on end. I have no interest in all. I have no idea why TPTB think the audience cares about these "stories."

13 minutes ago, 1974mdp said:

Maybe.,..but probably not...they'll finally figure out that no one wants to watch people sit around and talk about who is going to work at what random company for weeks on end. I have no interest in all. I have no idea why TPTB think the audience cares about these "stories."

It’s a terrible, unwatchable, lazy show, but it’s been that way for so long without any viewership consequences that I figured it was immune to such drops. Hopefully, the changes we’re seeing behind the scenes are the tip of the iceberg. Y&R will never be what it was, but someone could actually try to tell a story.

 

Bold is not doing well with the new ratings system. The Looney Tunes hour is a flop.

 

BTG 😭😭😭 

4 minutes ago, skiman12082004 said:

BTG 😭😭😭 

Yes, their demos are horrific.

5 hours ago, Faulkner said:

It’s a terrible, unwatchable, lazy show, but it’s been that way for so long without any viewership consequences that I figured it was immune to such drops. Hopefully, the changes we’re seeing behind the scenes are the tip of the iceberg. Y&R will never be what it was, but someone could actually try to tell a story.

 

It's true. For years now, if I randomly tune it, it's just people talking in circles about who's going to work at this company or take over that company. There are so many random damn companies you would need your own spreadsheet to keep track...and none of it is remotely interesting. How does any of it even pass as a "story?"

Seeing Y&R demo numbers so low is alarming.

13 hours ago, 1974mdp said:

Maybe.,..but probably not...they'll finally figure out that no one wants to watch people sit around and talk about who is going to work at what random company for weeks on end. I have no interest in all. I have no idea why TPTB think the audience cares about these "stories."

They should all weigh 300lb from always being at a restaurant or coffee shop all the time 

Those BTG demos are quite...something.

Honestly, can't say I am shocked though.🤷🏾‍♀️

So much for Billy Flynn's plot lifting Y&R. Now they're throwing the kitchen sink of unemployed soap vets with Tamara, Roger etc.. but it's not going to work as long as Kent/Griffith are in charge.  

BTG is in trouble. It had such a messy, weak plot line in the beginning months (and still problematic) with very poor casting choices for some major roles; they lost the chance to keep those initial viewers coming back in the early weeks. And running repeats in the first year is just another nail in the coffin. I give it Season 2 possibly Season 3 but with BB and YR so weak, plus MVJ is not a great HW, the show is going to continue to struggle.

Edited October 2Oct 2 by VelekaCarruthers

And yet, the repeats (which have to do with the initial order of episodes) have done pretty well.