By Mallory Mattingly
Here’s everything you need to know about 2025’s top three most-watched TV programs.
Super Bowl LIX unsurprisingly took first place, attracting an “average of 126.7 million viewers as Philadelphia beat Kansas City on Feb. 9,” Variety reported.
Other pro sporting events that secured a spot on Variety’s top 100 most-watched shows list includes the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays, the NBA Finals game that featured the Oklahoma City Thunder versus the Indiana Pacers and, lastly, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships.
The second most-watched program of 2025 was CBS’s hit show TRACKER. The series “scored a remarkable 19 episodes on the year’s top 100 primetime telecasts ranker — more than anything except the NFL, and up from last year’s 15 slots,” Variety said.
The series stars Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, “a trusted lone-wolf survivalist who, driven by the troubles of his past, uses his instincts to find the missing and collect rewards. Supported by lawyer Reenie Green, Colter will stop at nothing to get the job done.”
Movieguide® gave the hit show a -2 content score but praised its themes of “family ties, protection of the vulnerable and a sense of duty toward the weak.” The review continues:
The first two episodes of season two of TRACKER balances moments of moral clarity with Colter’s efforts to protect the vulnerable and do what’s right against more ambiguous actions such as breaking the law to solve cases. The series weaves in biblical themes of helping others and standing up for the weak but also touches on darker elements like violence, light profanity, and hints of immorality, including sex outside of marriage. Overall, it’s a thrilling return, though due to some of the show’s content, discernment is recommended for older children.
DANCING WITH THE STARS Season 34 secured the No. 3 spot, thanks, especially, to Robert Irwin and Whitney Carson’s captivating performances and season win.
“Where do I begin. I’ll never be able to describe what last night and these last 3 months have meant to me, but I can say THANK YOU,” Irwin posted on Instagram after scoring the Mirrorball Trophy. Thank you for letting me live out my dream.”
“This was everything I dreamed it would be and so much more, and Witney, you are the reason I could take this leap of faith and create memories that will last a lifetime,” he continued.
“10 years ago my sister won the mirrorball, and 11 years ago Witney won – this feels like the most special, full circle moment. And that brings me to my family, they moved all the way out from Australia for 3 months to support me and be there for me every step of the way. Bindi, you inspired me to embark on this adventure, and I have you to thank for setting me on the course to take this remarkable journey,” Irwin added.
As we head into 2026, it will be interesting to see if these shows can grab audiences in a big way again.
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