Ratings results and status updates on all the currently airing sci fi & fantasy shows as well as those still awaiting word on their fates. For the latest ratings updates, be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site
Ratings Results of Interest: The CW’s annual Arrow-verse crossover kicked off the prior Sunday with The Flash in a special timeslot, but the ratings results for that episode were likely lower than what network execs had hoped for. However, the three-part event improved on Monday and Tuesday of last week as it wrapped up with Arrow and Supergirl (in a special Tuesday night airing). Here are the same day ratings for all three nights of the crossover:
The Flash (Sun 8 PM EST): 0.7 rating / 1.8M tot viewers
Arrow (Mon 8 PM EST): 0.8 rating / 2.1M tot viewers
Supergirl (Tue 8 PM EST): 0.8 rating / 2.2M tot viewers
The crossover averaged a 0.77 rating across its three nights which are the best numbers that The CW has seen this year and both Arrow and Supergirl were at season high levels. Last season’s crossover averaged a 0.93 rating (Legends of Tomorrow participated in that one), which means the numbers are down by 17% this year. But that is about in line with the year-over-year declines that the network is experiencing overall, so they will likely consider the crossover to be a success. It also boosted the numbers for both Legends of Tomorrow and Black Lightning as both bumped up to a 0.4 rating this past week in the lead-out slots.
Less successful has been Syfy’s Nightflyers which saw its numbers drop as it wrapped up its ten-episode run this past week. Here are the numbers for all ten nights from its first season run:
Ep 1 (Sun): 0.15 rating / 623 tot viewers
Ep 2 (Mon): 0.14 rating / 414 tot viewers
Ep 3 (Tue): 0.09 rating / 390 tot viewers
Ep 4 (Wed): 0.08 rating / 319 tot viewers
Ep 5 (Thu): 0.12 rating / 319 tot viewers
Ep 6 (Sun): 0.08 rating / 424 tot viewers
Ep 7 (Mon): 0.08 rating / 303 tot viewers
Ep 8 (Tue): 0.05 rating / 312 tot viewers
Ep 9 (Wed): 0.06 rating / 274 tot viewers
Ep 10 (Thu): 0.09 rating / 420 tot viewers
That works out to a season-to-date average of only a 0.09 rating based on same day viewing. Since Syfy does not own this show, then it is making money only on the advertising revenue and I am thinking that those ratings are lower than the show’s sponsors would like them to be. It is possible that Nightflyers performed better in digital viewing (each episode was made available online after it aired live), but it needed to make up for a pretty significant shortfall there. On the bright side, Syfy does tend to give its shows two seasons to build an audience, but I’m not certain these numbers are strong enough for the network to justify that this time around. I placed this one On the Bubble last week and still consider it firmly there at this point.
A lot of shows are on their Winter hiatus already at this point of the season, but there were some other ratings results of interest from the week. Starz’s Counterpart returned for its second season the prior Sunday posting only a 0.04 rating with 248K total viewers and this week it didn’t make the Top 150 cable shows indicating that viewers are not tuning in (or don’t even know if is back) in its second year. I have started that one out On the Bubble. Leading in to that show, Outlander improved to a 0.19 rating with 1.1 million total viewers as that one continues to build its audience after a slow Season 4 start.
On Friday, Syfy’s Z Nation slipped to a 0.10 rating with 428K total viewers as that one’s numbers continue to fluctuate notably. In the next hour, Van Helsing dropped to a series low 0.06 rating with 337K total viewers as that show’s fate remains in doubt. Over on NBC, Midnight, Texas remained low at a 0.4 rating with 2.4 million total viewers as that one looks like it could be done after its second season wraps up. On Monday, Nat Geo’s Mars remained low at a 0.05 rating with 359K total viewers, but that one may make up some slack with its global viewing numbers.
Most of the rest of last week’s shows were on hiatus or remained mostly steady from the prior week. You can see the full ratings results for the week at this link, and be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for the latest results and breaking news. Ratings Source: ShowBuzzDaily
What’s to watch on the Streaming Services? Click on the following links for a comprehensive list of the Sci Fi TV Shows available on Netflix | Prime Video | Hulu | Other
News Roundup: Last week brought some pretty notable announcements beginning with the revelation that next year’s Arrow-verse crossover will be the Crisis on Infinite Earths. I discuss how that might impact The CW’s superhero shows at this link. Word also broke that Netflix holds the rights to its Marvel shows for two years after they have ended or been cancelled, meaning that Daredevil, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist will not be jumping over to another venue anytime soon. I discuss the implications of that at this link. And FX’s boss released his annual Peak TV report showing that the number of scripted original shows increased again in 2018. But there are signs of slowing which I discuss in more detail at this link. Lastly, Netflix announced just today that it has renewed The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina through its fourth season.
Status Updates: Syfy’s Nightflyers Is Firmly On the Bubble
Below are the status updates for all the currently airing shows or those still awaiting word on their fate. This does not include streaming shows, unless there is information worth mentioning, because there is typically too little data available to gauge their fates. You can click through to the show pages to see week-over-week ratings results (where available) and find out more information about the series. You can see the status of all the currently airing and returning sci fi TV shows at the Cancellation Watch Page.
Arrow (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has enjoyed a long and healthy run and could be looking at wrapping up next season around the time of the Crisis on Infinite Earths cross-over event (aka Project: Purge the Arrow-verse). More on that at this link. Arrow is currently on hiatus and returns with new episodes on January 21st.
Black Lightning (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): The numbers are down for this show in its second year and it will not have too many episodes under its belt by season end. The CW prefers to renew shows rather than cancel them, but with the waning popularity of its superhero entries, this one could be the first casualty if its ratings remain low. It is currently on hiatus and returns with new episodes on January 21st (when it moves to Mondays at 9 PM EST).
Channel Zero (Syfy, Status – Cancellation Likely): By all appearances, this one looks to be a dead show walking. Its ratings have been on a continual decline across its four seasons, and Syfy burned off the fourth year episodes across six consecutive nights outside of Prime Time. The show has stirred up some good buzz and has picked up a small but loyal following, but Syfy has been in the cancelling business of late and it looks like this one could be the next to fall. Fans could try to make some noise on the social nets to see if another venue might be interested in picking the show up, though.
Charmed (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): The same day ratings for this show may not be great on highly competitive Sunday nights, but it is one of the most watched shows in digital viewing on the network’s website and app. Since The CW has better adapted to the 21st century than the other broadcast nets, it factors online viewing more heavily into its model. This show has received a full season order and should be on track to charm its way into a second season. Charmed is currently on hiatus and returns with new episodes on January 20th.
Doctor Who (BBCA, Status – Renewed): This show got off to a strong start with the thirteenth Doctor (played by Jodie Whitakker) drawing in plenty of viewers to see the first female lead for the series. The numbers slipped some after the curious onlooker effect has passed, but production has already begun on a twelfth season so expect this show to stick around for several more years. The New Years special episode will air on January 1st.
The Flash (CW, Status – Renewal Likely): The momentum for this one has slowed some with its continued ratings declines, but it is still the network’s top-rated show and it should survive next year’s Crisis on Infinite Earths cross-over event (aka Project: Purge the Arrow-verse). More on that at this link. The Flash is currently on hiatus and returns with new episodes on January 15th.
The Gifted (FOX, Status – Renewal Possible): This show is at series low numbers and it is not getting the same lift from delayed viewing that it was seeing last year. FOX owns the show and it is part of the X-Men franchise, but at these levels it has to be counted as On the Bubble and fans should take to the social networks to try and give it a boost. The Gifted is currently on its Winter hiatus and will return on January 1st.
God Friended Me (CBS, Status – Renewal Possible): This show’s numbers in the 18-49 demo are just passable, but it continues to rank in the Top 25 based on total viewers each week. It has received a full season pickup, and if it can continue to post good total viewers stats (older-skewing CBS tends to give more weight to those numbers), then it may survive to a second season. It is currently on hiatus and returns with new episodes on January 6th.
The Good Place (NBC, Status – Renewal Possible): As expected, this show has been renewed for a fourth season. Its numbers have been down from its second season average, but it is still doing well enough for an NBC show on highly competitive Thursday nights and it sees decent gains in delayed viewing. It is currently on its Winter hiatus and will return with new episodes in January.
Humans (AMC, Status – On the Bubble): This show’s numbers were down in its third season, and AMC kicked it out of Prime Time to the 11 PM hour; never a good sign. Its fate is more closely tied to how it is performing in Britain on Channel 4, but its numbers are down over there as well according to Wikipedia. I have moved it to Bubble status and will keep it there until we hear final word on its fate.
Into the Badlands (AMC, Status – On the Bubble): This show wrapped up the first half of its third season in June and there is still no word on when it will be back, leading me to wonder if AMC has given up on it (more on that at this link). Its ratings are down over fifty percent from its second year and it remains firmly On the Bubble at this point. Fans should definitely make a Call to Action on the social networks to show that it has a loyal following.
Legacies (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This one has not gotten off to a great start based same day ratings, but it is one of the most watched shows in digital viewing on the network’s website and app. Since The CW has adapted to the 21st century better than the other broadcast nets, it factors online viewing more heavily into its model. Legacies has received an order of three more episodes (shorter than the usual Back 9 because production got off to a late start) and seems to be on track for a second season renewal. It is currently on hiatus and will return with new episodes on January 24th.
Legends of Tomorrow (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This show is at series low levels so far in its fourth season, but I believe it will be back for at least one more year. The CW may want to keep it around to pick up characters from its other superhero shows that might be ending, or they could be targeting wrapping this one up around the time of the Crisis on Infinite Earths cross-over event (aka Project: Purge the Arrow-verse). More on that at this link. LoT is currently on hiatus and will return with new episodes in April.
MacGyver (CBS, Status – Renewal Likely): This show’s ratings are down from last year’s levels, but that likely will not matter. It is owned by CBS and it will have three full seasons after this year, so it is worth it to the network to keep it going at least one more season to get it to the episode threshold the syndication market prefers. Also, it plugs up and hour on low-viewership Fridays. It is currently on hiatus and returns with new episodes on January 4th.
Manifest (NBC, Status – Renewal Possible): This one pulled very strong numbers for its series premiere, though it has seen those drop since then. It continues to see a notable lift from delayed viewing, though, and if it does not drop much further from its current same day ratings then it should be on course for a second season renewal. It is currently on its Winter break and should return with new episodes early in 2019.
Mars (NGC, Status – Renewal Possible): This show’s same day viewing numbers were down notably in its second year, but it relies more heavily on its global viewership stats. If it continues to perform well worldwide, it could come back for a third season.
Midnight Texas (NBC, Status – Cancellation Likely): This show performed relatively well for a Summer entry when it debuted in July of last year, but shifting it to Fridays in Fall has done it no favors. It is currently the network’s lowest rated show and I have moved it to Cancellation Likely Status. I know this one had a pretty dedicated fanbase in its first season, so they need to make some noise on the social nets if they want it to stick around.
Nightflyers (Syfy, Status – On the Bubble): This show debuted with passable numbers for a Syfy series, but airing it on consecutive nights has not worked in its favor as it has not been able to sustain its nightly viewership. It may be doing better in digital viewing, but Syfy does not own this show which is a red flag for an under-performer on that network. I consider this one to be On the Bubble and fans should make some noise on the social nets if they want Nightflyers to stick around.
Outlander (Starz, Status – Renewed): This show has returned down in its fourth season (though it has been trending up the last few weeks), but Starz pays less attention to the same day viewing and more to the total airings for the week plus online viewing. This is an established franchise for the network that performs well overseas and it has already been renewed through a sixth season.
Riverdale (CW, Status – Renewal Likely): This show is down just a bit from last year’s numbers and it tends to get plenty of attention on the social networks. It also performs very well in its encore runs on Netflix and is on the verge of the syndication stretch. Expect it to be back for at least one more season if not more. It is currently on hiatus and returns with new episodes on January 16th.
Stan Against Evil (IFC, Status – Renewal Possible): This show’s numbers were down a bit in its third season, but it may still have done well enough for an IFC entry. Fans might want to take to the social nets and show some support, though.
Star Wars Resistance (Disney, Status – Renewal Possible): This show’s numbers are on the low side, but then animated series tend to live and die more by their merchandising than overnight ratings results. This one could stick around for a few seasons if it sells enough toys. It is currently on hiatus and will return with new episodes early in 2019.
Supergirl (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This show is down from last season’s numbers, but it has still done quite well for The CW’s first foray into Sunday night programming in a decade, especially considering how competitive that night is. I consider it one of the more likely shows to survive the next year’s Crisis on Infinite Earths cross-over event (aka Project: Purge the Arrow-verse). More on that at this link. Supergirl is currently in hiatus and returns with new episodes on January 20th.
Supernatural (CW, Status – Renewal Possible): This venerable genre entry is down some from last season, but it remains one of the better-rated shows on The CW. The network boss has already said that this one will continue as long as the lead actors want to stay with the show, so whether it has a fifteenth season is largely up to them. It is currently on hiatus and returns with new episodes on January 17th.
Van Helsing (Syfy, Status – On the Bubble): This show’s numbers are down notably in its third season and I consider it firmly On the Bubble leaning towards Cancellation Likely. It is a low-rated third year show not owned by Syfy, and this network tends to cancel those (more on that at this link). Fans need to get active and make some noise on the social networks RIGHT NOW, otherwise this could become yet another Syfy casualty.
The Walking Dead (AMC, Status – Renewal Likely): The post-Rick Grimes era has not led to an improvement in the ratings for this show, but TWD still continues to rank as the top scripted series on cable and also outperforms most broadcast network shows. Expect at least a tenth season from this one if not more. This show is on its Winter break and will return with new episodes in February.
Z Nation (Syfy, Status – Renewal Possible): This show has slipped to series low levels, but it may still be on track for renewal. It is relatively inexpensive to produce and a sixth season gets it to a good episode count for a syndication run, so it could stick around another year. But fans should probably take to the social networks to show some support and to boost attention.
PREVIOUS POST: Nightflyers Flies Low for Syfy, Arrow-verse Crossover Down from Last Year READ
