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.
FOX added a new animated entry to its Summer schedule with Golan the Insatiable (which first appeared on their Animation Domination High Def) and that show had its debut on Sunday. However, it didn’t draw much attention for its premiere as it only pulled a 0.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic based on the overnights with 1.6 million total viewers. That’s a pretty low number even for a Summer series and it came in lower than repeats of The Simpsons and Family Guy on Sunday night. I’m thinking that FOX’s expectations were not too high for the series, but I’m also thinking they expected it to come in above a 0.6 score and likely at a 1.0 or higher. And if its not performing better than repeats of the network’s other animated shows, what’s their motivation for keeping it on the air? I’m starting this one off at a Moderate Cancellation Alert level, and that will go higher if the show does not improve its ratings in the coming weeks (which is unlikely). The good news is that if the show does get cancelled, it can always return to ADHD which is now running on FXX.
Syfy’s import series Bitten received word last week that it will be returning for a third season. Its number have not been great during its Syfy run, but those aren’t as important to its fate because its home network is the Canadian Space Channel. And it has done quite well up there and has also developed a vocal fanbase that spans beyond its home country, so it may stick around for a few more seasons. However, Canadian shows do not necessarily target the extended runs that U.S. shows prefer, so its not impossible that Bitten could wrap up around its fifth season the way Lost Girl did.
Ratings results for the sci fi / fantasy shows airing Monday May 25th thru Sunday May 31st (metric definitions below):
(Nielsen Top 25 chart activity is pending)
iZombie CW Tue 5/26 9 PM
Rating: 0.6 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.6 | StD Rating: 0.7 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
It is holding steady at decent enough numbers for the Spring/Summer timeframe. Its season finale is this week and it returns for Round 2 in Fall.
Wayward Pines FOX Thu 5/28 9 PM
Rating: 1.2 | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 5.0 | StD Rating: 1.1 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
This show held steady for a second week in a row and its series premiere improved 110% to a 2.1 rating when the Live+7 numbers were factored in. For a Spring/Summer entry, it still looks like it may have a chance.
Chart Activity: As predicted last week, this show made it into the Top 25 based on the ratings in the 18-49 demographic. It landed at the Number 13 slot and this should be the beginning of a run in that chart if its ratings hold relatively steady.
Lost Girl Syfy Thu 5/28 10 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.6 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Final Season
It held steady in the second week in its new timeslot. This series is currently in its final season.
Olympus Syfy Thu 5/28 11 PM
Rating: 0.1 | % Chng PW: -50.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.4 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
This show dropped from the prior week which is not a good thing. If it can maintain a 0.2 average rating, then it may have a chance seeing how 12 Monkeys got the renewal nod at that level. But if Olympus wraps up its season with 0.1 scores, that could be bad. Of course I’m not sure how much the Syfy ratings impact the show seeing as it may count as a Canadian import (like Lost Girl), so its status is up in the air.
The Messengers CW Fri 5/29 9 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.7 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Cancelled
This show held steadily low as it burns off its remaining episodes before heading to TV Oblivion.
Bitten Syfy Fri 5/29 11 PM
Rating: 0.1 | % Chng PW: -50.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.4 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
This show slipped last week, but that’s not as important seeing as it is a Canadian import. It also received word last week word that it will be returning for a third season (more on that above).
Outlander Starz Sat 5/30 9 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.0 | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
Not great numbers for its season finale, but it has already been renewed for a second year. I’m guessing Starz is going to want to see some improvements in the ratings when it returns, though.
Orphan Black BBCA Sat 5/30 9 PM
Rating: 0.1 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.4 | StD Rating: 0.0 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
This show held steady and has already been renewed for a fourth season.
Game of Thrones HBO Sun 5/31 9 PM
Rating: 3.5 | % Chng PW: +40.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 7.0 | StD Rating: 3.4 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
For those thinking that this show’s numbers were going to take a turn for the worse because of a little controversy, back of the line for you! It rebounded from its holiday weekend numbers as expected (a staggering 40% increase) and should hold steady or perhaps even improve has it wraps up its fifth season (and it has already been renewed for a sixth).
Chart Activity: This show also rebounded on the Nielsen Twitter Rankings going from Number 9 for prior week to Number 2. It also jumped up in the Top 25 based on total viewership for cable shows. It improved from the Number 7 slot to Number 3, and once again only the NBA playoffs beat it for the week.
Golan the Insatiable FOX Sun 5/31 9:30 PM
Rating: 0.6 | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.6 | StD Rating: 0.6 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
Not a good bow for this animated series as it chances to survive beyond its Summer run look slim (more on this one above).
Penny Dreadful SHOW Sun 5/31 10 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: +50.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.7 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
It improved from last week and its chances look much better at this point. I hear that it is an expensive series to produce, though, so that may factor into any renewal decisions.
Salem WGN Sun 5/31 10 PM
Rating: 0.1 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.4 | StD Rating: 0.1 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
This one is still holding steadily low and I believe its chances for a third season rest heavily on how much international financing is backing it.
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.
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.
