CBS Wins Nielsen’s Fall Multiplatform Ratings Among Broadcast, Led by ‘Tracker’ — but Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Dominates Overall (EXCLUSIVE)
#Nielsen ratings #Multiplatform viewership #CBS Tracker #Netflix Stranger Things #Streaming dominance #Fall television #Broadcast networks
📌 Key Takeaways
- CBS led broadcast networks in fall multiplatform ratings
- 'Tracker' was the top broadcast series with 16.65 million viewers
- Netflix's 'Stranger Things' dominated overall with 32.86 million viewers
- Streaming platforms significantly altered the rankings when included
- The ratings combined linear and 35 days of streaming data
📖 Full Retelling
CBS emerged victorious in Nielsen's Fall Multiplatform Ratings among broadcast networks on February 23, 2026, led by the crime drama 'Tracker,' while Netflix's 'Stranger Things' dominated the overall streaming landscape when both linear television and 35 days of streaming viewership were tallied. The Eye Network's continued success demonstrates traditional broadcast television's resilience in an increasingly fragmented media environment. 'Tracker' maintained its winning streak with 16.65 million viewers across platforms, making it the top broadcast series for the fall season. However, when streaming giants were factored into the equation, the rankings shifted dramatically, with Netflix's final season of 'Stranger Things' crushing all competition with an impressive 32.86 million average viewers. The streaming platform's dominance continued with its docuseries 'Sean Combs: The Reckoning' securing second place with 20.64 million viewers, while Paramount+'s 'Landman' emerged as a strong performer with 19.64 million viewers. ABC's 'High Potential' closely followed CBS's hit drama with 16.07 million viewers, rounding out the top performers across all platforms.
🏷️ Themes
Television ratings, Streaming dominance, Network competition, Viewership metrics
📚 Related People & Topics
Nielsen Media Research
American audience measurement service
Nielsen Media Research (NMR) is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre, films (via the AMC Theatres MAP program), and newspapers. Headquartered in New York City, it is best known for the Nielsen ratings, an audience measurement system of television viewe...
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Feb 23, 2026 11:45am PT CBS Wins Nielsen’s Fall Multiplatform Ratings Among Broadcast, Led by ‘Tracker’ — but Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Dominates Overall By Michael Schneider Plus Icon Michael Schneider Variety Editor at Large franklinavenue Latest ‘Extra’ Renewed by Telepictures and Fox TV Stations for Season 33 2 hours ago Inside Warner Bros. Discovery, Mood Among Many Staffers Shifts in Favor of Netflix Sale vs. Paramount Takeover 4 days ago Taraji P. Henson Dresses as Scary Spice on Next Week’s ‘The Masked Singer’ In These Exclusive ‘Spice Girls Night’ Clips 5 days ago See All The final numbers are in for fall, and CBS’ “ Tracker ” continues its winning streak — leading the Eye’s dominance among broadcast networks when both linear and 35 days of streaming viewership of non-sports series fare is tallied. Of course, add the streamers to the mix, and the final season of “ Stranger Things ” was no match for the competition: The Netflix series dominated the fall, with an average of 32.86 million viewers. That was followed by Netflix’s blockbuster docuseries “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” (20.64 million) and Paramount+’s surging “Landman” (19.64 million). “Tracker” was next, with 16.65 million — making it tops among broadcast series — followed closely by ABC’s “High Potential” (16.07 million). Related Stories Warner Bros. Discovery Agrees to Engage With Paramount in Sales Talks, but for Now Still Backs Netflix Deal as It Sets March 20 Shareholder Vote
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