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Despite years of predictions about the decline of traditional television, December 2025 continues to prove that network TV remains a powerful force, particularly when it comes to total audience reach. While streaming platforms dominate headlines and capture younger viewers, broadcast television still owns the largest single-night audiences, especially for scripted dramas, live sports, and long-running news franchises.
This season, the balance between legacy television and modern viewing habits has become clearer than ever. Streaming is no longer a disruptor operating on the margins; it is now fully integrated into how networks measure success. Yet even with that shift, network television continues to anchor American viewing habits.
In December 2025, network television is dominated by high-performing newcomers on CBS and ABC, alongside perennial heavyweights like
Tracker and 60 Minutes. While streaming continues to capture a high percentage of younger viewers, traditional broadcast still draws the largest total audiences for scripted drama and sports.
Top-Rated Scripted Shows (2025)
- Tracker (CBS): Remains the #1 entertainment series in America. It currently averages 11–13.9 million viewers per episode across all platforms.
- High Potential (ABC): The breakout hit of the 2024-25 season, often ranking as the #2 scripted show. It is particularly popular in the key 18-49 demographic, with over 80% of its audience watching via streaming.
- Matlock (CBS): Kathy Bates’ series has become a massive total-audience winner, consistently drawing over 9 million viewers per week.
- NCIS (CBS): The long-running franchise continues to anchor the top 10, often pulling in nearly 8 million viewers.
- Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (CBS): The most-watched comedy on network TV in 2025, taking over the top spot from its predecessor, Young Sheldon.
Top Reality & News Programs
- 60 Minutes (CBS): Regularly the highest-rated non-sports program on Sunday nights, frequently surpassing 10 million viewers.
- Survivor (CBS): Remains the top-rated unscripted show in the 18-49 demo, with a recent season high of 4.8 million viewers in early December.
- Dancing with the Stars (ABC): Continues to show strong demographic growth, recently hitting a 0.9 rating in the 18-49 demo.
- ABC World News Tonight (ABC): America’s #1 newscast for 10 consecutive years, currently averaging 7.8 million total viewers.
Ratings Leaders by Network (Dec 2025)
| Network | Top Entertainment Program | Average Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|
| CBS | Tracker | ~11.0M |
| ABC | High Potential | ~12.3M (Cross-platform) |
| NBC | Chicago Fire | ~7.8M |
| FOX | The OT (NFL post-game) | ~8.5M |
Note: Sports programming, specifically
NFL Sunday Night Football (NBC) and Monday Night Football (ABC), remain the overall highest-rated broadcasts in the country, often peaking above 20 million viewers.
CBS has once again emerged as the industry’s most consistent ratings powerhouse. Tracker remains the most-watched entertainment series in the country, averaging well into the double-digit millions across live, delayed, and streaming views. Its appeal cuts across age groups, reinforcing the network’s reputation for delivering broad-based hits that perform week after week.
ABC, meanwhile, has found a breakout success story in High Potential. The series has quickly become one of the most talked-about scripted shows of the season, thriving particularly among adults 18–49. A striking percentage of its audience consumes the show via streaming platforms, making it a prime example of how modern hits now live across formats rather than in a single time slot.
CBS also continues to benefit from the strength of familiar franchises and trusted brands. Matlock, led by Kathy Bates, has become a major total-viewer draw, while NCIS remains a dependable fixture near the top of the weekly charts. Even on the comedy side, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage has successfully stepped into the spotlight, becoming the most-watched network sitcom of the year.
Outside scripted entertainment, unscripted and news programming remains a cornerstone of network dominance. 60 Minutes continues to rule Sunday nights as the most-watched non-sports program on television, frequently reaching audiences that rival major entertainment premieres. Survivor has shown remarkable staying power, still leading unscripted programming among younger adults, while Dancing with the Stars has enjoyed renewed momentum with noticeable demographic growth.
In news, ABC World News Tonight continues its long-standing run as America’s most-watched evening newscast, underscoring that broadcast journalism still commands massive daily audiences in an era of fragmented media consumption.
When broken down by network, the picture remains consistent. CBS leads entertainment ratings behind Tracker, ABC thrives with cross-platform success stories like High Potential, NBC leans on the enduring appeal of Chicago Fire, and FOX benefits heavily from NFL-adjacent programming. Live sports, particularly Sunday and Monday night football, remain in a category of their own, regularly exceeding 20 million viewers and reinforcing why sports rights continue to be among the most valuable assets in media.
For content creators, studios, and production professionals, these trends matter. High-performing network shows drive demand not just for talent and writers, but also for production infrastructure, set design, and technical equipment. As networks and streamers increasingly blur the line between traditional broadcasts and digital distribution, the tools used to produce high-quality television have never been more important. Companies sourcing professional-grade gear, signage, and studio essentials often turn to specialized marketplaces like The Vending Lot’s TV studio store, which caters to the evolving needs of modern production environments.
The takeaway from December 2025 is clear. Streaming may shape how audiences watch, but network television still defines what America watches together. For advertisers, producers, and industry professionals alike, broadcast remains a central pillar of the entertainment ecosystem, not a relic of the past.