TV by the Numbers put together a good comparison of scripted shows for each network and it has very similar results. They have shows ranked by average overnights, average Live+3, and average Live+7, and there is not a lot of difference in the standings across each category. One notable exception, though, is CBS freshman entry Limitless. That show is ranked Number 12 among the CBS scripted shows based on the overnights, but it moves up four slots to Number 8 based on Live+3 and Live+7 delayed viewing (I have it as the fifth highest rated genre show for the season based on Live+7). That one has been subjected to an inordinate amount of preemptions for a new show, so it makes sense that people are typically catching up with it on DVR. Should CBS elect not to renew it for a second season, then I will be calling foul very loudly (as will the fans) because they have proclaimed that the overnights are no longer important and that show is performing quite well once delayed viewing is factored in.
Following are the delayed viewing results for the broadcast network sci fi / fantasy shows through the week of April 4th ranked by Live+7 average rating (metric definitions below):
| Rank Live+7 | Series | Network | Avg Over-night Rtg | Live+7 Days Tracked | Live+SD Avg Rating Tracked for Live+7 | Avg Live+7 Rtg | Live+7 % Gain | Cancellation Alert |
| 1 | The X-Files | FOX | 3.2 | 6 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 54.7% | Low |
| 2 | Lucifer | FOX | 1.5 | 10 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 72.7% | Renewed |
| 3 | Supergirl | CBS | 1.7 | 15 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 49.0% | Low |
| 4 | Gotham | FOX | 1.4 | 16 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 73.2% | Renewed |
| 5 | Limitless | CBS | 1.4 | 20 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 76.0% | Moderate |
| 6 | Once Upon A Time | ABC | 1.4 | 15 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 65.4% | Renewed |
| 7 | The Flash | CW | 1.4 | 17 | 1.4 | 2.3 | 63.7% | Renewed |
| 8 | Agents of SHIELD | ABC | 1.2 | 15 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 75.4% | Renewed |
| 9 | Heroes Reborn | NBC | 1.2 | 11 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 77.3% | Cancelled |
| 10 | The Last Man on Earth | FOX | 1.2 | 9 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 65.1% | Renewed |
| 11 | Angel from Hell | CBS | 1.4 | 1 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 46.2% | Cancelled |
| 12 | Scream Queens | FOX | 1.1 | 11 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 79.3% | Renewed |
| 13 | Grimm | NBC | 0.9 | 16 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 85.0% | Renewed |
| 14 | Arrow | CW | 1.0 | 10 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 64.9% | Renewed |
| 15 | Legends of Tomorrow | CW | 0.8 | 9 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 77.2% | Renewed |
| 16 | Sleepy Hollow | FOX | 0.8 | 16 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 76.7% | Medium |
| 17 | Agent Carter | ABC | 0.8 | 6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 79.2% | Medium |
| 18 | Minority Report | FOX | 0.7 | 7 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 70.6% | High |
| 19 | Supernatural | CW | 0.7 | 13 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 77.5% | Renewed |
| 20 | Vampire Diaries | CW | 0.5 | 17 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 97.6% | Renewed |
| 21 | The 100 | CW | 0.5 | 6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 80.0% | Renewed |
| 22 | Second Chance | FOX | 0.6 | 6 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 67.7% | High |
| 23 | Galavant | ABC | 0.6 | 2 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 54.5% | Moderate |
| 24 | iZombie | CW | 0.5 | 5 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 70.8% | Renewed |
| 25 | The Originals | CW | 0.4 | 16 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 92.2% | Renewed |
For the cable entries, the delayed viewing data has been spotty lately, so the picture there is not complete and I do not have data for all of this seasons’ shows. But the “ratings noise” shows performing in the 0.2 to 0.4 range based on the overnights are not seeing huge gains once the DVRs are counted. Sure, several of them are doubling their viewership or more, but a 0.6 or 0.7 based on the Live+7 viewing still indicates a pretty small audience. But several of these shows are managing to survive because they have international financing / partnerships backing them and they build up an audience when syndicated globally.
Following are the delayed viewing results for the cable sci fi / fantasy shows (where data was available) through the week of April 4th ranked by Live+7 average rating (metric definitions below):
Road Rage: Alex and her brother must ride the apocalypse highway to meet up with their family, otherwise they will find themselves cast with the savages. Buy now in eBook and print format
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Cyber Knight & the Hand Puppet Commandos: One woman, seven hand puppets, and the solution to the Fermi Paradox will determine the fate of the Earth. Buy now in eBook and print format
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| Rank Live+7 | Series | Network | Avg Over-night Rtg | Live+7 Days Tracked | Live+7 Tracked Avg Rating | Avg Live+7 Rtg | Live+7 % Gain | Cancellation Alert |
| 1 | The Walking Dead | AMC | 6.5 | 4 | 6.5 | 9.5 | 46.9% | Renewed |
| 2 | Fear the Walking Dead | AMC | 2.6 | 1 | 3.1 | 4.5 | 46.1% | Renewed |
| 5 | Teen Wolf | MTV | 0.4 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 77.8% | Renewed |
| 3 | The Shannara Chronicles | MTV | 0.4 | 3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | 152.1% | Renewed |
| 6 | Shadowhunters | Free | 0.4 | 6 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 115.6% | Renewed |
| 4 | Colony | USA | 0.4 | 4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 127.6% | Renewed |
| 7 | The Leftovers | HBO | 0.3 | 1 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 112.1% | Final Season |
| 7 | Doctor Who | BBCA | 0.4 | 1 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 118.8% | Renewed |
| 9 | The Magicians | Syfy | 0.3 | 6 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 115.1% | Renewed |
| 10 | The Expanse | Syfy | 0.2 | 1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 150.0% | Renewed |
| 11 | Damien | A&E | 0.2 | 1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 135.3% | Moderate |
| 12 | Star Wars Rebels | DXD | 0.1 | 2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 118.8% | Renewed |
Metric Definitions:
Avg Overnight Rtg: The season to date average rating based on the final overnights for live broadcast.
Live+7 Days Tracked: The days that the Live+7 data was available for a show in the Live+7 Top 25 charts published by TV by The Numbers.
Live+SD Avg Rtg Tracked for Live+7: This is the average Live+SD rating for the Live+7 Days Tracked above. This will vary from the Avg Overnight Rtg because of the two week delay on Live+7 data.
Avg Live+7 Rtg: The season to date average rating based on the Live+7 numbers for the Live+7 Days Tracked (see metric above).
Live+7 % Gain: The average Live+7 rating percent gain from the average overnight rating based on the Live+7 Days Tracked (see metric above). The more datapoints available in the Live+7 Days Tracked, the more accurate this will be and the closer the math will work. Shows with fewer datapoints will have larger discrepancies.
Cancellation Alert: My estimation on a show’s chances of being cancelled. The five levels from least to most likely to be cancelled are Low, Moderate, Medium, Elevated, and High.