Paramount+'s Landman topped the multiplatform viewer ratings for the first five weeks of 2026, with ABC's High Potential following closely. ABC dominated the month with eight series in the top 20, including Will Trent and The Rookie. Nielsen data highlights strong performances across broadcast and streaming platforms during this period.
The new year began strongly for television viewership, as reported by Nielsen's multiplatform +7 day ratings covering January 1 to February 8, 2026. Paramount+'s Landman secured the lead in total viewers for these initial five weeks, marking a robust start for the series on the streaming service. ABC's High Potential trailed just behind, contributing to the network's overall success in the period.
ABC claimed the highest number of series in the top 20 for January, with eight entries: Will Trent, The Rookie, American Idol, 9-1-1, Shifting Gears, 9-1-1: Nashville, and Abbott Elementary. This performance came amid a hiatus for CBS's main shows early in the year. Rounding out the top ten were Netflix's Bridgerton and His & Hers, alongside NBC's Chicago Fire and Chicago Med.
In the key adults 18-49 demographic for broadcast series, ABC occupied the top three positions: High Potential, The Rookie, and Abbott Elementary. The network extended its momentum with midseason premieres, including Scrubs, which drew 11.4 million viewers over five days, as well as RJ Decker and Celebrity Jeopardy! All Stars.
Certain shows benefited from strong lead-ins, such as Fear Factor and Memory of a Killer, which premiered behind NFL coverage and achieved large audiences. Since early February, several programs returned, including NBC's The Voice and various CBS series like FBI, CIA, Survivor, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Ghosts, Matlock, Elsbeth, Sheriff Country, Fire Country, Boston Blue, Tracker, Watson, and NCIS with its spinoffs.
Looking at season-to-date figures from September 22, 2025, to February 8, 2026, CBS's Tracker remained at the top, followed by ABC's High Potential and CBS's Matlock. ABC's Will Trent and The Rookie also ranked highly after their January season premieres. These metrics are based on Nielsen's linear and streaming cross-platform analysis, focusing on original broadcast series with at least two telecasts, excluding sports, specials, news, and repeats.
