Ratings Shock! Wednesday night’s TV numbers for October 8, 2025, brought a few pleasant surprises—and some not-so-great news for major network favorites. A couple of shows saw their numbers tick upward, but others felt the sting of viewer drop-offs. The battle for midweek viewership is getting tougher, and this round had its share of winners and losers. But here’s where it gets interesting—some of the shifts defy expectations.
At 8 PM, CBS’s Survivor led the pack with a strong 0.63 rating in the 18–49 demo and around 4.23 million viewers, cementing its continued dominance in the reality competition space. Meanwhile, ABC’s Shifting Gears pulled in a 0.31 rating with 3.68 million viewers, slightly down from recent highs. Over on FOX, The Floor showed promise with a modest 0.28 rating and 2.20 million viewers, rising from last week—a small but meaningful comeback for the fast-paced trivia series. NBC’s Chicago Med drew solid numbers with 0.28 and 5.05 million viewers, though the night overall suggested a cooling trend across the One Chicago lineup. The CW’s Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent managed only 0.04 in the demo, attracting 450,000 viewers, underscoring the network’s ongoing struggle to capture a primetime audience.
Moving to 8:30 PM, ABC’s Abbott Elementary slipped slightly to a 0.27 rating and 2.34 million viewers—still respectable, but a sign that even critical darlings can’t escape the midweek slump.
At 9 PM, Chicago Fire continued NBC’s downward trajectory, notching a 0.29 rating and 4.79 million viewers. FOX’s 99 to Beat delivered a 0.24 with 1.70 million watching, while ABC’s The Golden Bachelor earned a 0.18 and 1.93 million viewers, another ratings dip that may raise eyebrows for the franchise’s future. The CW’s Wild Cards rerun barely registered with a 0.02 rating and 280,000 viewers. CBS stayed steady, as The Amazing Race gained some ground at 9:30 PM, climbing to a 0.31 demo rating and 2.34 million viewers—a modest but notable rise that keeps the adventure series in the race.
Closing out the night, 10 PM saw Chicago PD hit 0.25 with 3.92 million viewers, leaving NBC with room for concern. ABC tried to hold ground with Shark Tank, which posted a 0.17 and 1.61 million viewers, but the entrepreneurial favorite couldn’t quite match its earlier season energy.
Cable Highlights
Cable made noise too—especially in sports. The MLB ALDS matchup between the Blue Jays and Yankees on FS1 easily dominated with a 0.99 rating and an audience of 4.63 million. The WNBA Playoffs on ESPN continued to impress, with the Aces vs. Mercury game scoring 0.25 and 1.30 million viewers, further proof women’s sports are gaining serious traction.
Meanwhile, cable news remained steady: Jesse Watters Primetime and Hannity each landed 0.16 ratings, pulling 3.29 million and 2.84 million viewers respectively for Fox News. TNT’s NHL broadcast of Bruins vs. Capitals drew 0.14 and 0.52 million viewers, and Gutfeld! followed with 0.13 and 2.76 million, proving that late-night political satire still has an audience. Other notable mentions include The Challenge on MTV (0.09) and Sistas on BET (0.06), both maintaining stable if unspectacular momentum.
As the data shows, viewer loyalty is becoming more volatile across networks, especially midweek. Traditional broadcast heavyweights like NBC’s One Chicago lineup are starting to face tough competition from reality and sports content on other channels. Does this mark the beginning of a deeper shift in audience priorities—or just a temporary dip? And here’s the real debate: Are viewers growing tired of franchise fatigue, or are they simply following the most entertaining live events each week? Let’s hear your thoughts—where do you stand on this ratings rollercoaster?
