2026 kicked off with Paramount+’s “Landman” leading the TV total viewer tally for the first five weeks of the year, with ABC’s “High Potential” close behind. With CBS’ main shows on hiatus at the start of the year, ABC led January with the most series in the top 20 (eight, also including “Will Trent,” “The Rookie,” “American Idol,” “9-1-1,” “Shifting Gears,” “9-1-1: Nashville,” “Abbott Elementary”).
Other series in the top ten included Netflix’s “Bridgerton” and “His & Hers,” and the NBC duo of “Chicago Fire” and “Chicago Med.”
In adults 18-49 among broadcast series, ABC held down the top three spots at the start of the year: “High Potential,” “The Rookie” and “Abbott Elementary.”
Linear and Streaming Total Viewers, First Month of 2026 (Jan. 1, 2026 to Feb. 8, 2026)
Linear Adults 18-49, First Month of 2026 (Jan. 1, 2026 to Feb. 8, 2026)
ABC is looking to extend that early 2026 success with additional midseason premieres of “Scrubs” (which opened to 11.4 million viewers in five days) and “RJ Decker,” which premiered Tuesday.
Also, since the start of February, additional shows that have returned include “The Voice” (NBC), “FBI” (CBS), “CIA” (CBS), “Survivor” (CBS), “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” (CBS), “Ghosts” (CBS), “Matlock” (CBS), “Elsbeth” (CBS), “Celebrity Jeopardy! All Stars” (ABC), “Sheriff Country” (CBS), “Fire Country” (CBS), “Boston Blue” (CBS), “Tracker” (CBS), “Watson” (CBS), and “NCIS” and its spinoffs (CBS).
Meanwhile, as a sequel to Variety‘s recent look at Nielsen’s Fall Multiplatform Ratings, here’s an updated look with that first month of the midseason included into the season-to-date roster. CBS’ “Tracker” is still tops, followed by ABC’s “High Potential” and CBS’ “Matlock.” But next on the list are ABC’s “Will Trent” and “The Rookie,” which had their season premieres in January.
Linear Total Viewers, Season to Date (Sept. 22, 2026 to Feb. 8, 2026)
Linear Adults 18-49, Season to Date (Sept. 22, 2025 to Feb. 8, 2026)
Source: Nielsen 2025-2026 Season (9/22/25 – 2/8/26), Cross-platform analysis of Nielsen Linear + SCR data based on 7 days of viewing from the linear air date and streaming FSD. Includes pre-season premieres. Broadcast original series only. Minimum two telecasts. Excludes, sports, specials, news and repeats. Linear based on Nielsen’s Updated Big Data Plus Panel Sample.
