The Most Popular TV Shows of the Year

For the first time since streaming hit our screens, Nielsen has multi-platform ratings for television series across broadcast TV, cable, and streaming—and Netflix's Squid Game has emerged as the most-watched show for 2024-2025 overall, as well as among the 18-49 demographic, reports Variety. Nielsen's numbers measured 35 days of linear and streaming viewing, which also confirms what a giant Netflix is: Half of the series in the top 20 are on that platform; Hulu's first entry doesn't appear till the 49th slot, with the show Paradise. The biggest winners, per Variety: comedies and reality TV. The biggest losers: basic cable and traditional viewing among younger demographics. The top 10 shows across all platforms:

1. Squid Game (Netflix)
2. Adolescence (Netflix)
3. Tracker (CBS)
4. Reacher (Amazon Prime Video)
5. High Potential (ABC)
6. Matlock (CBS)
7. Landman (Paramount+)
8. Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story (Netflix)
9. Zero Day (Netflix)
10. Nobody Wants This (Netflix)

See the complete top 100 shows here.