Unless otherwise noted, the ratings numbers below are based on the final overnights and may vary slightly from the preliminaries reported on the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site.
Last Thursday, FOX’s new entry Wayward Pines saw its numbers improve with is second episode and perhaps the pronouncement of its DOA status may have been premature. The show improved to a 1.2 rating in the 18-49 demographic based on the overnights with 4.6 million total viewers. That’s not a huge jump from its 1.0 score for its premiere (which came against stiff competition from season finales), but any time a show goes up after its debut then it is good news. Wayward Pines essentially counts as a Summer entry and ratings expectations are not as high for those shows, so an average in the low 1’s might keep it alive for another season (and nevermind that “limited run” tag, these shows always have a built-in continuation plan). A few more weeks worth of data will give a better gauge of this show’s status, and I’m not lowering the Cancellation Alert Status on it just yet. But it’s not quite on deathrow at the moment as it is within range of survivable numbers.
Over on Syfy, new series Olympus continued to hold steady but low as it delivered another 0.2 rating in the 18-49 demo with around 600k total viewers. That show’s numbers have held mostly steady since its debut, (you can see the season to date ratings for all its episodes at this link), and it is certainly an inexpensive entry for the network. 12 Monkeys received a renewal from Syfy averaging the same ratings and that one is definitely a more expensive series. Plus Olympus may actually be an import series like Bitten because Wikipedia lists the Canadian/British Super Channel as its home network, meaning its Syfy numbers are not as import. I’m going to drop its Cancellation Alert to Moderate at this point and will likely keep it there until we hear final word on whether it will get a second season.
Ratings results for the sci fi / fantasy shows airing Monday May 18th thru Sunday May 24th (metric definitions below):
(Updated with Chart Activity)
The Returned A&E Mon 5/18 10 PM
Rating: Season Ended | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.0 | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
Season Ended. Renewal possibly contingent on a deal with Netflix.
The Flash CW Tue 5/19 8 PM
Rating: 1.5 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 3.9 | StD Rating: 1.4 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
This show held steady with its season finale and looks set to go into its second year on strong footing as it has now become the flagship series for the fifth place network.
Chart Activity: The Flash ranked at Number 15 in the broadcast network charts based on the ratings in the 18-49 demographic. Though it made that chart largely because most other shows had already finished for the season and competition was slim. Still consider it a decent accomplishment for one of the fifth place network’s entries.
Agents of SHIELD ABC Tue 5/19 9 PM
Rating: Season Ended | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 3.9 | StD Rating: 1.6 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
Season Ended. Returns for its third season in Fall.
iZombie CW Tue 5/19 9 PM
Rating: 0.6 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.5 | StD Rating: 0.7 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
This show remained at a 0.6 rating, but it has been renewed and these numbers might be good enough to sustain it for another year. A slight improvement on the ratings would be good for its second season, though.
Arrow CW Wed 5/20 8 PM
Rating: Season Ended | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 2.8 | StD Rating: 1.0 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
Season Ended. Returns for its fourth season in Fall.
Supernatural CW Wed 5/20 9 PM
Rating: 0.7 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.7 | StD Rating: 0.8 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
This show held steady for its season finale, and these numbers are apparently good enough. At this point, each additional season is just padding to its syndication run, so if the economics work our and the actors want to keep going, the show will apparently stick around.
Vampire Diaries CW Thu 5/21 8 PM
Rating: Season Ended | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.5 | StD Rating: 0.7 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
Season Ended. Returns for its seventh season in Fall.
Wayward Pines FOX Thu 5/21 9 PM
Rating: 1.2 | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 4.6 | StD Rating: 1.2 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
It’s numbers improved and that’s a good thing. I few more weeks worth of results will give us a better gauge, though (more on this one above).
Chart Activity: This show did not make it into the Top 25 for the week based on the 18-49 demo, but it was probably at about the Number 26 or 27 slot based on the fact that its 1.2 rating tied with the show in the Number 25 spot. If it can hold at that level this week, then it will almost certainly make the Top 25.
Lost Girl Syfy Thu 5/21 10 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.9 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Target: 0.0 | Cancellation Alert: Final Season
Its numbers held steady after moving to its new timeslot. This show is currently in its final season.
Olympus Syfy Thu 5/21 11 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.6 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
It moved one hour later and held steady. Maybe it’s doing well enough for a cheap entry (or possible import) on Syfy (more on t one above).
Grimm NBC Fri 5/22 9 PM
Rating: Season Ended | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 4.7 | StD Rating: 1.2 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
Season Ended. Returns for its fifth season in Fall.
The Messengers CW Fri 5/22 9 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.8 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Cancelled
No change for this show as it continues its burn-off run.
Bitten Syfy Fri 5/22 11 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.5 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Low
It move to a later timeslot, but its numbers held steady. If anybody can confirm the third season pickup, message us in the comments below with a link.
Outlander Starz Sat 5/23 9 PM
Rating: Preempted | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
Preempted. Returns for season finale on Saturday.
Orphan Black BBCA Sat 5/23 9 PM
Rating: 0.1 | % Chng PW: -50.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.4 | StD Rating: 0.0 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
It slipped, but you can blame the Memorial Day weekend. It has already been renewed for a fourth season.
Game of Thrones HBO Sun 5/24 9 PM
Rating: 2.5 | % Chng PW: -19.4% | Tot Viewers (MM): 5.4 | StD Rating: 3.4 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
This show took a notable drop, but that’s in part due to the Memorial Day weekend and possibly also some backlash from last week’s controversial episode. Expect it to rebound next week.
Chart Activity: This show slipped from Number 2 last week in the Cable Top 25 based on total viewers to Number 7, but it was beat out by the NBA Playoff Finals. It also took a tumble in the Nielsen Twitter Ratings Top 10 as it slipped from Number 1 the prior week to Number 9. I expect it to rebound on both charts next week.
Penny Dreadful SHOW Sun 5/24 10 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: -33.3% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.6 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
It was down, but almost certainly because of the holiday weekend. I’m still thinking it is more likely than not to get a third season.
Salem WGN Sun 5/24 10 PM
Rating: 0.1 | % Chng PW: -50.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.3 | StD Rating: 0.1 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
The holiday weekend likely caused the drop, so we will see where it comes in next week.
Be sure keep an eye out for the latest numbers and any breaking news throughout the week at the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site. You can see the status of all the currently airing sci fi / fantasy shows at the Cancellation Watch page and also the latest Sci Fi TV Power Rankings post. And for more information on where I get these numbers and how I make my Cancellation Alert assessments, check out the Cancelled Sci Fi FAQ.
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Metric Definitions:
Rating: Overnight rating in the 18-49 demographic for same day viewing based on the final numbers unless otherwise noted
% Chng PW: The percentage change +/- for this week’s rating vs. last week’s rating.
Tot Viewers: Estimated total viewers (age 2+) to tune in to the episode for same day viewing.
StD Rating: Season to date average for the rating metric tracked above.
Target: The estimated average rating that the show needs to sustain to get renewed.
Cancellation Alert: My prediction of the likelihood that a show will get cancelled. From least to most likely the statuses are Low, Moderate, Medium, Elevated, and High.
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Ratings Source: TV by the Numbers and ShowBuzzDaily
Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2014 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
