The world of network television continues to change and adapt in the world of streaming and increased competition. Only nine scripted series aired on the Alphabet Network last season. A third of them were new and seven are returning for ABC’s 2025-26 season. Will we see more comedies and dramas this season? Stay tuned!
ABC shows (so far): 9-1-1, 9-1-1: Nashville, 20/20, Abbott Elementary, America’s Funniest Home Videos, American Idol, Celebrity Jeopardy! All Stars, Betrayal: Secrets & Lies, Celebrity Family Feud, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, Dancing with the Stars, Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro, Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV, The Golden Bachelor, The Great Christmas Light Fight, The Greatest Average American, Grey’s Anatomy, High Potential, Press Your Luck, RJ Decker, The Rookie, Scrubs, Shark Tank, Shifting Gears, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and Will Trent.
There’s lots of data that network execs look at when deciding whether to renew or cancel a TV series but ratings are a major ingredient. These 2025-26 season charts are updated as new ratings data becomes available.
Note: If you’re not seeing the updated chart, please try reloading the page or view them here and here.
A couple of notes about these charts:
These figures are updated automatically as new ratings are released. The averages are based on the final national numbers (live plus same day viewing), unless marked with an asterisk (*). For technical reasons, I have to resort them manually. While these numbers don’t include further delayed or streaming viewing, they are a very good indicator of how a show is performing, especially when compared to others on the same channel. There can be other economic factors involved in a show’s fate, but typically the higher-rated series are renewed and the lower-rated ones are cancelled.
Keep in mind that the demo numbers are typically what’s most important to advertisers. Therefore, that’s how the networks measure success. Advertisers pay more for ad time on a show that has a higher demo rating. Older viewers also matter but younger viewers watch less traditional TV and are therefore harder to reach. Delayed viewing matters more and more these days (if commercials are watched) but live viewing is still advertisers’ ideal.
Demo numbers are typically reported using the 10ths decimal place (2.4, for example). In the averages, I’m using two extra decimal for easier ranking. The networks take into account when shows air on Fridays and Saturdays, nights when TV viewership is lower.
What do you think? Are you surprised by any of the ratings? Which 2025-26 shows should be doing better? Which one do you think will be cancelled next?
