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That last season of Strange things Attracting a large audience is not news. However, new data from Nielsen puts a new number on that — while also showing that a number of network series are among the biggest shows on all of TV and streaming.
Stranger Things 5 It brought in 30.6 million viewers during its first 28 days, leading all series — streaming or traditional TV — in the 2025-26 season (through March 1). Netflix has seven of the top 20 shows, with limited series His and hers (24.2 million viewers) and docuseries Sean Combs: The Account (19.7 million) also in the top five.
Network series make up half of the top 20, of course with the help of broadcast partners. CBS has six shows, led by Marshals With 25.6 million viewers over 28 days. This number reflects only the March 1 series premiere, which had 20.6 million viewers after one week and added nearly 6 million more in the following 21 days.
CBS had six shows in the top 20, with Tracker, CIA (Again, only for the series premiere), Matlock, sheriff of the country and ghosts They all make the list. ABC High potential, rookie and Will Trent It did too, along with the first episodes of the series Scrubs alive.
Aside from the Netflix shows, three other streaming-only series made it into the top 20: Landman on Paramount+ (18.9 million viewers over 28 days), the house On HBO Max (12.6 million) and He falls on Prime Video (12.5 million).
If live sports are included, primetime NFL games on NBC, ABC/ESPN and Prime Video — which averaged 15 million or more viewers this season — would beat out the last few shows on the list. CBS also took notice 60 minutes and Survivor It averages more than 10 million viewers over 28 days, but falls slightly short of that ghosts.
Here are the 20 best shows through March 1.
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