ABC’s High Potential claimed the top spot in Nielsen Ratings chart for 2025, details explored

ABC’s High Potential shines bright as the most-watched broadcast entertainment series of 2025 in a review done by Nielsen’s multiplatform ratings.

This underlines a broader shift in how audiences are engaging with broadcast television.

This popularity and immense viewership are shared by other titles like Tracker, The Rookie, and Dancing with the Stars. The achievement is notable not just for the ranking itself, but for how the numbers were reached.

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ABC's High Potential claimed the top spot on the Nielsen Ratings chart for 2025

The data showed that High Potential gained a solid 16.5 million viewers, giving the show a center stage among entertainment series on broadcast television for 2025.

Excluding sports news programs, the 2025 calendar year analysis includes the second half of the 2024–2025 television season and the first half of the 2025–2026 season. High Potential narrowly edges out CBS’ Tracker. The two shows are effectively tied, but High Potential holds the No. 1 position in ABC’s reporting.

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What is High Potential about?

High Potential is a popular ABC crime procedural that follows a single mother with a remarkable mind. She easily spots patterns that others cannot.

The show mixes personal and work cases without overcomplicating its premise. The ABC crime procedural features Kaitlin Olson in the lead role as Morgan Gillory.

At Major Crimes, Morgan is partnered with Detective Adam Karadec, a disciplined investigator who follows the rulebook closely. Their dynamic forms the backbone of the series. Karadec’s structured methods frequently clash with Morgan’s instinct-driven approach, creating tension but also results.

Running alongside the weekly cases is a long-term subplot involving Morgan’s personal life. She uses LAPD resources to investigate the disappearance of Roman, her teenage daughter, Ava's father.

The mystery remains unresolved as the series progresses, adding emotional weight and continuity to the story. The show currently has one season and has already been renewed for Season 2. It streams on Hulu alongside its ABC broadcast.

Kaitlin Olson plays the character with restraint, leading to the show's popularity. The cast is joined by a stellar ensemble: Daniel Sunjata, Javicia Leslie, Deniz Akdeniz, Amirah J, and Judy Reyes. These performances help the ensemble feel functional and credible within the procedural format.

Full list of recurring and main cast:

Main

• Amirah J
• Matthew Lamb
• Judy Reyes
• Steve Howey (Season 2)
• Kaitlin Olson
• Daniel Sunjata
• Javicia Leslie
• Deniz Akdeniz

Recurring

• Taran Killam
• Garret Dillahunt
• JD Pardo
• David Giuntoli
• Mekhi Phifer

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High Potential has driven much of its audience growth. Episodes are available shortly after broadcast. This format allows for a steady viewership building, leading to emerging at the top of Nielsen’s 2025 multiplatform ratings chart.

ABC’s analysis is based on the 12 episodes during the reporting window that gained an average of 8.6 million viewers through linear television and 7.9 million viewers via streaming, resulting in a combined average of 16.5 million viewers.

CBS’ Tracker has landed just behind with 14 episodes. The series averaged 11 million linear viewers and 5.4 million streaming viewers, for a total of 16.4 million viewers.