Rueben's Ramblings

As I have mentioned for many years now, the TV landscape has changed quite a bit in the past 20 years since streaming started taking the attention away from linear TV, you know those channels that you watch on cable TV for those who still pay for and receive cable TV, of course.

And while linear TV isn’t watched as much as streaming, the major and cable networks still rely on the ratings system to determine how shows are performing. For over15 years, here at Rueben’s Ramblings, I have been providing a yearly ratings report on how TV dramas, limited series, mini-series, anthology series and the like as well as made-for-TV movies have performed for each TV season.t

I will continue to do that for as long as linear TV continues to exist, although I continue to hold to the belief that the major and cable networks really need to start changing their format in order to keep pace with all the streaming services that are available.

So let’s take a look at how the major and cable networks fared throughout 2025.

The first list is the major network dramas that aired from January through approximately June, covering the last half of the 2024-2025 TV season:

Tracker (CBS) – 7.9 million viewers
FBI (CBS) – 6.1 million viewers
Chicago Med (NBC) – 5.9 million viewers
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 5.7 million viewers
Matlock (CBS) – 5.4 million viewers
NCIS (CBS) – 5.4 million viewers
High Potential (ABC) – 5.3 million viewers
Watson (CBS) – 5.1 million viewers
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 4.7 million viewers
Elsbeth (CBS) – 4.7 million viewers
FBI: International (CBS) – 4.6 million viewers *
Will Trent (ABC) – 4.6 million viewers
9-1-1 (ABC) – 4.4 million viewers
FBI: Most Wanted (CBS) – 4.2 million viewers *
NCIS: Sydney (CBS) – 4.1 million viewers
Law & Order (NBC) – 3.9 million viewers
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 3.9 million viewers
The Equalizer (CBS) – 3.9 million viewers *
Fire Country (CBS) – 3.8 million viewers
S.W.A.T. (CBS) – 3.3 million viewers *
The Rookie (ABC) – 3.1 million viewers
9-1-1: Lone Star (FOX) – 2.9 million viewers *
Dr. Odyssey (ABC) – 2.9 million viewers *
Brilliant Minds (NBC) – 2.7 million viewers
The Hunting Party (NBC) – 2.7 million viewers
Doc (FOX) – 2.3 million viewers
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 2.3 million viewers
Found (NBC) – 2.2 million viewers *
The Irrational (NBC) – 1.9 million viewers *
Only Murders in the Building (ABC) -1.6 million viewers (linear viewing from Hulu)
Rescue: Hi-Surf (FOX) – 1.6 million viewers *
Paradise (ABC) – 1.4 million viewers (linear viewing from Hulu)
Suits LA (NBC) – 1.4 million viewers *
Grosse Pointe Garden Society (NBC) – 1.2 million viewers *
Alert: Missing Persons Unit (FOX) – 1.1 million viewers *
The Cleaning Lady (FOX) – 1.1 million viewers *
Sherlock & Daughter (CW) – 488,000 viewers ^
Wild Cards (CW) – 467,000 viewers
Good Cop/Bad Cop (CW) – 352,000 viewers ^
All American (CW) – 327,000 viewers

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes all those shows that have yet to be renewed for another season

NOTE: Law & Order: Organized Crime only aired one episode on linear TV on NBC before the rest of the season aired online on Peacock, the streaming service for NBC.

The second list covers all of the cable network dramas from that same approximate time period: January through June 2025:

When Calls the Heart (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
1923 (Paramount Network) – 1.4 million viewers *
The White Lotus (HBO) – 777,000 viewers
The Last of Us (HBO) – 737,000 viewers
Dark Winds (AMC) – 722,000 viewers
The Chicken Sisters (Hallmark Channel) – 547,000 viewers
The Way Home (Hallmark Channel) – 687,000 viewers
The Walking Dead: Dead City (AMC) – 333,000 viewers
Mayfair Witches (AMC) – 249,000 viewers
SurrealEstate (Syfy) – 146,000 viewers (approximately) ^
Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz) – 137,000 viewers (approximately)
Dexter: Original Sin (Showtime) – 99,000 viewers (approximately) *
The Agency (Showtime) – 95,000 viewers (approximately)
The Couple Next Door (Starz) – 90,000 viewers
Yellowjackets (Showtime) – 82,000 viewers
Mystic (UPtv) – 56,000 viewers (approximately) ^

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes those shows that have yet to be renewed for a new season

No ratings for the following cable dramas that aired from January through approximately June 2025 could be tracked down:

C.B. Strike (HBO) ^
9 Bodies in a Mexican Morgue *, Godfather of Harlem ^ and Rogue Heroes (all on MGM+)
All Creatures Great and Small, Call the Midwife, Funny Woman ^, Marie Antoinette ^, Miss Austen ^, Miss Scarlet, Vienna Blood ^ and Wolf Hall: The Mirror & the Light * (all on PBS)
Mobland (Showtime)
Outlander (Starz)

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes those shows that have yet to be renewed for a new season

The third list covers the dramas that aired on the major networks over the summer from May through approximately September 2025:

Transplant (NBC) – 2 million viewers *
Sullivan’s Crossing (CW) – 462,000 viewers
Family Law (CW) – 370,000 viewers ^

* denotes those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes those shows that have yet to be renewed for a new season

The fourth list covers the cable dramas, which aired from May through approximately September 2025, where the ratings could be tracked down. Those dramas are:

Holidazed (Hallmark Channel) – 672,000 viewers *
The Gilded Age (HBO) – 594,000 viewers
The Rainmaker (USA Network) – 569,000 viewers
The Chicken Sisters (Hallmark Channel) – 528,000 viewers
Alien: Earth (FX) – 437,000 viewers
The Librarians: The Next Chapter (TNT) – 381,000 viewers (approximately)
Nautilus (AMC) – 304,000 viewers (approximately) ^
Resident Alien (Syfy/USA Network) – 264,000 viewers (approximately) *
Dexter: Resurrection (Showtime) – 163,000 viewers (approximately)
The Chi (Showtime) – 123,000 viewers (approximately)
Revival (Syfy) – 107,000 viewers (approximately) ^

* denotes those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes those shows that have yet to be renewed for a new season

The following cable network dramas that aired from May through approximately September 2025, where ratings could NOT be tracked down include the following:

Daredevil: Born Again (FX) [linear viewing from Disney+]
The Institute (MGM+)
Grantchester, Patience ^, Professor T, The Marlow Murder Club and Unforgotten ^ (all on PBS)
Outlander: Blood of My Blood (Starz)
Hudson & Rex (UPtv)

^ denotes those shows that have yet to be renewed for a new season

The fifth list covers all of the major network dramas that aired during the first half of the 2025-2026 TV season, covering September/October to approximately mid-December:

Tracker (CBS) – 8.1 million viewers
NCIS (CBS) – 5.6 million viewers
Chicago Med (NBC) – 5.3 million viewers
Chicago Fire (NBC) – 5.2 million viewers
Matlock (CBS) – 4.9 million viewers
Sheriff Country (CBS) – 4.8 million viewers
Chicago P.D. (NBC) – 4.2 million viewers
NCIS: Origins (CBS) – 4.2 million viewers
High Potential (ABC) – 4.2 million viewers
Boston Blue (CBS) – 4 million viewers
9-1-1 (ABC) – 3.9 million viewers
Elsbeth (CBS) – 3.8 million viewers
FBI (CBS) – 3.8 million viewers
Fire Country (CBS) – 3.8 million viewers
Law & Order (NBC) – 3.5 million viewers
9-1-1: Nashville (ABC) – 3.2 million viewers
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – 3.2 million viewers
NCIS: Sydney (CBS) – 2.9 million viewers
Law & Order: Organized Crime (NBC) – 2.7 million viewers
Watson (CBS) – 2.6 million viewers
Doc (FOX) – 2.4 million viewers
Murder in a Small Town (FOX) – 2.2 million viewers
Grey’s Anatomy (ABC) – 2.1 million viewers
Brilliant Minds (NBC) – 2 million viewers
Law & Order: Toronto: Criminal Intent (CW) – 502,000 viewers

The sixth and final list covers the cable network dramas that aired from September through mid-December 2025 where the ratings could be tracked down:

Mistletoe Murders (Hallmark Channel) [Season 2] – 883,000 viewers ^
Mistletoe Murders (Hallmark Channel) [Season 1] – 645,000 viewers
Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 643,000 viewers (approximately) *
Task (HBO) – 300,000 viewers
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (AMC) – 241,000 viewers
The Lowdown (FX) – 219,000 viewers ^
Talamasca: The Secret Order (AMC) – 192,000 viewers (approximately) ^

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes all those shows that have not been renewed yet

And the following cable network dramas that aired from September through mid-December 2025 where the ratings could NOT be tracked down include the following:

Billy the Kid * and Robin Hood ^ (MGM+)
Maigret ^, The Gold and The Great Escaper * (all on PBS)
Mayor of Kingstown (Showtime)
The Pitt (TNT)
Power Book IV: Force and Spartacus: House of Ashur (Starz)
The Christmas Checklist (UPtv) ^

* denotes all those shows that have since been cancelled or came to a planned ending
^ denotes those shows that have not been renewed yet

The final analyses of all these ratings for both the major and cable networks for the entire year are as follows:

1. Tracker has once again held onto the reins as the number one drama on CBS, holding that title for the entire year while the former long-running number one drama, NCIS, has effectively moved to second place with the Kathy Bates-led reboot of Matlock holding a very tight third place. Meanwhile, the now defunct S.W.A.T. was the lowest rated drama on CBS for the first part of the year and the new medical drama Watson ranking as the lowest rated drama for the latter part of the year.

2. The new highest rated drama on ABC is High Potential with Will Trent in second place and the long-running drama 9-1-1 dropping to third place. Believe it or not despite being on the air for 22 seasons – or because of being that long in the tooth – Grey’s Anatomy is the lowest rated drama on ABC for the entire year.

3. Over on FOX, the final season of 9-1-1: Lone Star was the highest rated drama for the first part of the year on that network while the new medical drama Doc narrowly beat Murder in a Small Town for first place in the latter part of the year. The three now cancelled dramas Rescue Hi-Surf, Alert: Missing Persons Unit and The Cleaning Lady were the lowest rated for the year.

4. The Chicago One franchise is still at the top of the charts for NBC with Chicago Med narrowly beating out Chicago Fire for first place for the entire year while the now-defunct Suits LA and Grosse Pointe Garden Society were the lowest rated dramas for the first part of the year and, sadly, Brilliant Minds being the lowest rated drama for the network for the latter part of this year.

5. The CW is massively struggling after the acquisition by Nexstar and the fact it no longer has a staple of reliable programming to offer its viewers. The highest rated drama for the year is Sherlock & Daughter with the Canadian transplant series Wild Cards in second place. The lowest rated dramas for the network are All American and the other Canadian transplant series (and also much-maligned series) Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent.

6. As for cable TV, without the powerhouse that was Yellowstone, the long-running Hallmark Channel period piece drama When Calls the Heart claimed first place for the first part of the year with The White Lotus on HBO coming in second place. It should be noted that the Yellowstone prequel series 1923 on Paramount+ earned second place in the early part of the year, but it only aired two episodes before airing out the rest of its episodes on streaming. The lowest rated cable dramas for the year include Mystic on UPtv, Yellowjackets on Showtime and Talamasca: The Secret Order on AMC.

My final list typically covers all of the made-for-TV movies, mini-series, event series and/or specials that aired during the year on both the major and cable networks, but since ratings have been exceedingly hard to track down this year, I only have the results for some of the made-for-TV movies for first half of the year. If a movie title isn’t listed below, it’s either because the ratings were not available or, in most cases, could not be tracked down.

Those made-for-TV movies where ratings could be tracked down are as follows:

An Unexpected Valentine (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
The Reluctant Royal (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
The More the Merrier (Hallmark Channel) – 1.8 million viewers
A Grand Ole Opry Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.7 million viewers
Royal-ish (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
She’s Making a List (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
The Royal We (Hallmark Channel) – 1.6 million viewers
Christmas Above the Clouds (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Love of the Irish (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Polar Opposites (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
The Perfect Setting (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Three Wisest Men (Hallmark Channel) – 1.5 million viewers
Christmas at the Catnip Cafe (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
Hearts Around the Table: Jeann’s First Love (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
Return to Office (Hallmark Channel) – 1.4 million viewers
A Suite Holiday Romance (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Christmas on Duty (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Love on the Danube: Kissing Stars (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
Single on the 25th (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
The Wish Swap (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
We Met in December (Hallmark Channel) – 1.3 million viewers
A Royal Montana Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Hearts Around the Table: Josh’s Third Serving (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Hearts Around the Table: Kiki’s Fourth Ingredient (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Hearts Around the Table: Shari’s Second Act (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Melt My Heart This Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Merry Christmas, Ted Cooper! (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Sisterhood, Inc. (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
To Barcelona, With Love (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
To Barcelona Forever (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
Unwrapping Christmas: Olivia’s Reunion (Hallmark Channel) – 1.2 million viewers
A Newport Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Adventures in Love and Birding (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Catch of the Day (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Double Scoop (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Hats Off to Love (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Haul Out the Halloween (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Home Turf (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Love on the Danube: Love Song (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
My Argentine Heart (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
The Groomsmen: Last Dance (Hallmark Channel) – 1.1 million viewers
Journey to You (Hallmark Channel) – 1 million viewers
The Groomsmen: First Look (Hallmark Channel) – 1 million viewers
Villa Amore (Hallmark Channel) – 1 million viewers
The Christmas Cup (Hallmark Channel) – 984,000 viewers
A Machu Picchu Proposal (Hallmark Channel) – 964,000 viewers
Unwrapping Christmas: Lily’s Destiny (Hallmark Channel) – 910,000 viewers
Love in the Clouds (Hallmark Channel) – 907,000 viewers
Unwrapping Christmas: Tina’s Miracle (Hallmark Channel) – 902,000 viewers
A Christmas Angel Match (Hallmark Channel) – 896,000 viewers
A Keller Christmas Vacation (Hallmark Channel) – 880,000 viewers
Unwrapping Christmas: Mia’s Prince (Hallmark Channel) – 827,000 viewers
Tidings For the Season (Hallmark Channel) – 804,000 viewers
The Groomsmen: Second Chance (Hallmark Channel) – 732,000 viewers
Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime (Hallmark Channel) – 695,000 viewers
Jane Mysteries: Too Much to Lose (Hallmark Mystery) – 655,000 viewers
Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery (Hallmark Mystery) – 620,000 viewers
Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise (Hallmark Channel) – 592,000 viewers
Providence Falls: Thief of Fate (Hallmark Channel) – 592,000 viewers
Family Affair (Lifetime) – 524,000 viewers
Haunted Harmony Mystries: Buried at C (Hallmark Mystery) – 483,000 viewers
Thank God: Christmas at the Keller Ranch (Lifetime) – 481,000 viewers
Christmas Everyday (Lifetime) – 450,000 viewers
Finding Faith (Lifetime) – 420,000 viewers
I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story (Lifetime) – 413,000 viewers
Can You Feel the Beat: The Lisa Lisa Story (Lifetime) – 410,000 viewers
Faith in the Flames: The Nichole Jolly Story (Lifetime) – 404,000 viewers
I’ll Never Let You Go (Lifetime) – 386,000 viewers
Terri Blackstock’s If I Run (Lifetime) – 359,000 viewers
Terri McMillan Presents: His, Her & Ours (Lifetime) – 358,000 viewers
Terri McMillan Present: Preach, Pray, Love (Lifetime) – 347,000 viewers
Before Your Father Finds Us (Lifetime) – 328,000 viewers
Friends & Lovers, Part 1 (Lifetime) – 322,000 viewers
Deck the Hallways (Lifetime) – 312,000 viewers
Mystery Island: House Rules (Hallmark Mystery) – 312,000 viewers
Paws in the City (CW) – 250,000 viewers
Montana Mavericks (CW) – 210,000 viewers
Second Guessing Fate (CW) – 162,000 viewers
Ordinary Girl in a Tiara (CW) – 160,000 viewers
Savvy Sheldon Feels Good As Hell (CW) – 141,000
The Christmas Showdown (OWN) – 94,000 viewers

The ratings for the following made-for-TV movies either could not be tracked down, or were not available in time for this posting:

A Christmas Cookbook (Lifetime)
A Christmas Murder Mystery (UPtv)
A Country Encore (UPtv)
A Make or Break Holiday (Hallmark Channel)
A Pickleball Christmas (Lifetime)
A Royal Christmas Hope (UPtv)
A Royal Christmas Manor (UPtv)
A Runaway Bride for Christmas (Lifetime)
An Alpine Holiday (Hallmark Channel)
Call the Midwife Holiday Special (PBS)
Christmas in Alaska (Lifetime)
Christmas in Big Sky Country (UPtv)
Christmas with the Knightlys (UPtv)
Fake Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (OWN)
Five Date Rule (UPtv)
Friends & Lovers, Part 2 (Lifetime)
Heartstrings Attached (UPtv)
Jingle All the Way to Love (Lifetime)
Merry Missed Connection (Lifetime)
Mystery Island: Winner Takes All (Hallmark Mystery)
Oy to the World (Hallmark Channel)
Rodeo Christmas Romance (Lifetime)
See You Again (UPtv)
The Best Thing About Christmas (UPtv)
The Christmas Baby (Hallmark Channel)
The Christmas Campaign (Lifetime)
The Great Christmas Snow-In (UPtv)
The Snow Must Go On (Hallmark Channel)
Very Merry Mystery (UPtv)

What TV dramas or made-for-TV movies have you enjoyed the most (and the least) throughout the year? Please share.

TOMORROW: The Faces of 2025