'Stranger Things' Dominates 2025-2026 TV Season Multiplatform Viewership

The 2025-2026 television season concluded with Netflix’s popular science fiction drama, "Stranger Things," leading all non-sports programming in multiplatform viewership. Data released over a month after the season's official close indicates the series garnered significant attention across both traditional linear broadcasts and streaming services. According to Variety, citing Nielsen’s comprehensive multiplatform 35-day linear and streaming ratings, "Stranger Things" attracted an impressive 32.9 million viewers. This figure firmly established the Netflix production as the premier non-sports program of the season, underscoring its continued cultural impact and audience engagement. Following "Stranger Things" in the rankings was "Marshals," which secured the position of the second most-watched non-sports series. This program achieved a robust viewership of 29.8 million across various platforms. The third spot was claimed by "Tracker," which recorded 27.6 million viewers, demonstrating strong performance in its own right. The data, which accounts for viewing habits over 35 days across different platforms, provides a holistic view of audience engagement in the modern television landscape. Such comprehensive metrics are crucial for understanding which shows resonate most deeply with audiences, regardless of how or where they choose to watch. The Nielsen multiplatform report encompasses viewership figures from both conventional broadcast and cable channels, as well as major streaming platforms. This methodology ensures that the ratings reflect the fragmented nature of contemporary media consumption, where viewers often switch between live television and on-demand streaming. The strong showing by both "Stranger Things" and "Marshals" highlights the continued appeal of scripted dramas that manage to capture and retain large audiences. Their success across diverse viewing environments is a key indicator of their broad popularity during the 2025-2026 season.