CBS Season Ratings: ‘Matlock,’ ‘Tracker’ Reign as Canceled Shows Fall off the Map

Despite closing out the 2024-25 TV season as the most-watched broadcast network, CBS had to make some tough calls in canceling popular series like “The Equalizer,” “S.W.A.T.” and two “FBI” spinoffs from the 2025-26 lineup — cancellations that might have upset fans, but which seem self-explanatory breaking down where they ranked in this season’s ratings

It comes as no surprise the network’s shining stars “Tracker” and “Matlock,” which earned a Season 2 renewal after just two episodes, continued their dominance throughout the season, wrapping up as the two most-watched broadcast series according to Nielsen live-plus-35-day multiplatform figures. The Justin Hartley-led procedural averaged 17.5 million viewers while Kathy Bates’ twisty legal reboot closed out its first season with 16.1 million viewers.

While ABC’s “High Potential” and “Will Trent” snuck into the top eight broadcast shows with 16.1 million and 11.6 million viewers in the No. 3 and No. 6 spots, respectively, CBS was home to six of the top eight broadcast shows this season, including “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” and “Ghosts” (averaging 12.1 million viewers) along with “Elsbeth” and “Watson” (11.5 million).

“Tracker,” “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” “Ghosts,” “Elsbeth” and “Watson” were renewed by CBS earlier this year, alongside drama series “Fire Country,” “NCIS,” “NCIS: Sydney” and “NCIS: Origins,” which other than “Sydney” all made it into the top 20 most-watched 35-day multiplatform broadcast shows. Flagship series “NCIS” was the most-watched of the franchise, averaging 10.6 million viewers, while freshman series “NCIS: Origins” trailed behind “Fire Country’s” 9.6 million viewers at 9.4 million.

Recently canceled dramas “S.W.A.T.” and “The Equalizer,” as well as canceled freshman comedy series “Poppa’s House,” didn’t crack the top 20 broadcast series, but came relatively close. “S.W.A.T” averaged 7.2 million viewers, “The Equalizer” 8.3 million and “Poppa’s House” 5.6 million.

“We always have to look at all of our shows, look at the aggregate information, the creative, where they are in their life cycle, what the finances look like, what the ratings are, and we make those tough decisions,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said during CBS’ schedule presentation on Wednesday, noting that “The Equalizer” team had “some notice that this might be the end” and wrote a “satisfying ending” for the series (which aired May 4).

The flagship “FBI” series has likewise been performing well for CBS with an average 10.6 million viewers — matching the audience for “NCIS.” Spinoff series “FBI: Most Wanted” and “FBI: International” didn’t make it onto the top 20 at 8.4 and 8.3 million viewers, respectively, explaining CBS’ decision to end both this season. But the network is still betting on the franchise, with plans to launch a new spinoff “CIA,” which also hails from Dick Wolf and stars “Lucifer’s” Tom Ellis.

“We have to be fiscally responsible, and ultimately those deals and shows just weren’t penciling out for us from an economic perspective,” Reisenbach said. “We want to be in business with Dick. We’re excited to launch a new two-hour block next season.”

Additionally, long-running procedural “Blue Bloods” wrapped up its 14th and final season in December as the No. 14 most-watched broadcast show with 10.1 million viewers, ahead of “Fire Country” and “NCIS: Origins.” This explains why the network fast tracked the launch of spinoff series “Boston Blue,” headlined by Donnie Wahlberg as NYPD officer Danny Reagan.

The cancellations and renewals come ahead of the TV upfronts, which will see CBS’ fellow broadcast networks make similar tough decisions — especially NBC, which has yet to share renewal status on the majority of its lineup, with only the “Chicago” shows, “Happy’s Place” and “St. Denis Medical” securing renewals thus far.

Kentucky Derby sprints to a record

Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, which marked the 25th time the race was broadcast by NBC, scored the biggest audience the event had seen since 1989 as the 2025 race averaged 17.7 million viewers, increasing last year’s audience by 6%.

Viewership for the Derby peaked at 21.8 million viewers from 7:00-7:15 p.m. ET, which saw winner Sovereignty outpace Journalism for a 1½-length victory.

Tina Fey’s “The Four Seasons” dethrones “You” on Netflix charts

Netflix’s TV adaptation of “The Four Seasons” debuted to 11.9 million views in its first weekend on the streamer, becoming Netflix’s most-watched English-language TV show during the week of April 28, dethroning the fifth and final of “You,” which scored 10.9 million views after debuting to 10.1 million.

“The Four Seasons” also debuted to a bigger audience than the Kate Hudson comedy series “Running Point,” which scored 9.3 million views during its first week on Netflix in February. “Running Point” was quickly renewed for a second season, though “The Four Seasons” was envisioned as a limited series.

“Good American Family” scores Disney+ and Hulu’s biggest finale this year

The dramatic retelling of Natalia Grace’s story closed out its run with a streaming viewership milestone, as its finale, which debuted April 30, tallied up 6.3 million views globally in its first six days of streaming. The “Good American Family” finale now stands as the third most-viewed finale for a Hulu Original series to date, as well as the biggest finale audience this year.

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