Early December can be a tough period on the ratings front for primetime series, as holiday distractions and schedule hopscotch make it difficult for viewers to keep track of their favorite shows. But that didn’t keep some series from hitting fall highs last week once three-day VOD and DVR playback were included.
Cable, in particular, saw nice showings for some of its top scripted series, including FX’s “Fargo,” TNT’s “Major Crimes” and HBO’s “The Leftovers,” all of which hit fall highs in Nielsen’s “live plus-3” estimates for the week of Nov. 30-Dec. 6. And over on broadcast, rookie CBS hospital drama “Code Black” had another solid outing, and Fox’s “Empire,” “Rosewood” and “Gotham” ended their fall runs with ratings bounces.
Overall, the exit of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” one week earlier helped clear the field for NBC’s “Sunday Night Football,” which was able to reclaim its No. 1 status among the week’s top primetime programs (6.7 rating in adults 18-49, 19.23 million viewers overall) with its matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fox’s “Empire” pulled to within half a ratings point in the demo (6.2), hitting a four-week high while drawing its largest overall audience in five weeks (15.48 million). The soap had hit a series low the previous week on Thanksgiving Eve, but viewers returned on Dec. 2 for the show’s midseason finale. Lead-in “Rosewood” also perked up, hitting a four-week high in 18-49 (1.84) and a seven-episode high in total viewers (6.26 million).
The CW was able to make sure viewers stuck with their superhero series “The Flash” and “Arrow” by orchestating a crossover storyline that helps set the table for new spinoff series “Legends of Tomorrow,” bowing in January on the network. “Flash” grew in the demo (to 2.08) and hit a season high in total viewers (5.47 million), but it was the conclusion on “Arrow” that really popped (1.89 in 18-49, 4.88 million viewers overall) — obliterating its previous fall bests (1.62, 3.76 million).
Looking at some of the week’s other standouts, CBS rookie “Code Black” posted best-since-premiere numbers in both 18-49 (2.07) and total viewers (11.05 million). While the show has benefited in same-day ratings by a lack of competition from NBC’s “Chicago PD” the last two weeks, its Dec. 2 episode also saw had its biggest 3-day demo lift (0.60) since its premiere..
The Eye’s new Monday drama “Supergirl” (2.25 in 18-49, 9.89 million) saw its first week over week demo gain, but was surpassed for the first time by Fox’s own superhero-themed series, “Gotham” (2.33), which hit a three-week high with its fall finale.
NBC had a strong Tuesday with its post-“The Voice” dramas “Chicago Med” (2.56 in 18-49, 11.79 million) and “Chicago Fire” (2.75 in 18-49, 11.38 million viewers overall); both were up week to week in the demo and hit highs in total viewers. And the net’s Thursday presentation of “The Wiz Live” ranked among the week’s top five programs in both 18-49 (4.02) and total viewers (13.44 million), rising from its same-day averages by nearly 20% in both categories.
ABC had a rough time with its family comedies “The Muppets” (1.53), “Fresh Off the Boat” (1.80), “Modern Family” (3.9) and “Black-ish” (2.47), all of which hit season lows one week after being pre-empted. And on Sunday, both “Once Upon a Time” (1.88 in 18-49, 5.98 million viewers overall) and “Quantico” (2.14 in 18-49, 7.10 million) tumbled to lows; they were delayed in much of the country by 15 minutes due to President Obama’s address to the nation on terrorism, and that led to very low playback numbers. Seemingly unaffected, though, was the show in between, “Blood & Oil” (1.37 in 18-49, 4.86 million), which took advantage of no “The Walking Dead” competition to post its second best demo rating in seven weeks.
One bright spot for ABC was Friday comedy “Last Man Standing” (1.86 in 18-49, 8.08 million), which was 0.02 below its season high.
At FX, “Fargo” drew its largest “live plus-3” audience of the fall (2.86 million viewers), ranking fifth among scripted cable originals for the week. It also shot up in adults 18-49 (0.87), virtually matching its season best (0.88), set on Oct. 26.
Not so hot for the network was “American Horror Story: Hotel,” which hit season lows in both 18-49 (2.40 rating) and total viewers (4.70 million). Despite the latest declines, it was easily cable’s No. 1 show of the week in the demo and ranked tenth among all scripted series in the frame.
TNT’s Monday drama “Major Crimes” logged its best fall numbers in five airings to date (0.84 in 18-49, 5.45 million viewers overall), leading all cable scripted series for the week in total viewers. And book-ending the week, Sunday’s “The Librarians” (0.88 in 18-49, 3.56 million viewers overall) had its best showing since its Nov. 1 season premiere.
OWN’s “If Loving You Is Wrong” (0.87 in 18-49, 2.51 million viewers overall) and Comedy Central’s “Drunk History” (0.58 in 18-49, 0.98 million) were on the upswing with their finales. “Loving” hit three-week highs, while “Drunk” hit a seven-week high in total viewers and a six-year best in the demo.
At AMC, “Into the Badlands” (1.66 in 18-49, 3.61 million viewers overall) took a tumble as expected without its “Walking Dead” lead-in, down more than 40% in all categories. Still, it grew from same-day to “live plus-3” by more than 50% in key demos and was able to rank No. 2 among the week’s scripted cable originals in 18-49 (behind “American Horror Story”).
Also Sunday, HBO’s “The Leftovers” — which will return next year for a third and final season — hit a season high for a second straight week (1.43 million). And over at Showtime, “Homeland” drew its largest audience since its Oct. 4 season opener (2.55 million), but “The Affair” (1.39 million) was a bit below its recent season highs.
The top cable reality series of the week in 18-49 were Discovery’s “Gold Rush” (1.78), Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Atlanta” (1.74) and E!’s “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” (1.70), all of which were up week to week. One week earlier, “Gold Rush” had finished No. 1 among all Friday broadcast and cable programs in the demo.
Here’s a look at the top primetime programs in live+3 for the last two weeks:
WEEK 11: Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2015
Adults 18-49 rating
1. Sunday Night Football: Indianapolis-Pittsburgh (NBC), 6.7
2. Empire (Fox), 6.2
3. Thursday Night Football: Green Bay-Detroit (CBS/NFLN), 5.3
4. The Wiz Live! (NBC), 4.0
5. Modern Family (ABC), 3.9
6. The Voice-Monday (NBC), 3.4
6. Monday Night Football: Baltimore-Cleveland (ESPN), 3.4
8. Big 10 Football Championship: Michigan State-Iowa (Fox), 3.0
9. The Voice-Tuesday (NBC), 2.90
10. The Goldbergs (ABC), 2.88
11. Chicago Fire (NBC), 2.75
12. Survivor (CBS), 2.69
13. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-r (CBS), 2.66
14. The Simpsons (Fox), 2.63
15. Chicago Med (NBC), 2.56
16. The Middle (ABC), 2.50
17. Black-ish (ABC), 2.47
18. Criminal Minds (CBS), 2.44
19. American Horror Story: Hotel (FX), 2.40
20. Superstore preview-10 p.m. (NBC), 2.35
21. Gotham (Fox), 2.33
22. ACC Football Championship: Clemson-North Carolina (ABC), 2.30
23. A Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC), 2.28
24. Supergirl (CBS), 2.25
25. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Fox), 2.21
————–
26. Family Guy (Fox), 2.19
27. Quantico (ABC), 2.14
28. Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD (ABC), 2.12
29. Shark Tank (ABC), 2.11
30. The Flash (CW), 2.08
31. Code Black (CBS), 2.07
32. Superstore preview-10:30 p.m. (NBC), 1.96
33. Last Man on Earth (Fox), 1.92
34. Arrow (CW), 1.89
35. It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC), 1.88
35. Once Upon a Time (ABC), 1.88
37. Last Man Standing (ABC), 1.86
38. Rosewood (Fox), 1.84
39. Fresh Off the Boat (ABC), 1.80
40. Gold Rush (Discovery), 1.78
41. Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo), 1.74
42. Keeping Up With the Kardashians (E!), 1.70
43. Into the Badlands (AMC), 1.66
44. Nashville (ABC), 1.65
45. How the Grinch Stole Christmas-r (NBC), 1.63
45. Love & Hip-Hop Hollywood (VH1), 1.63
47. The Amazing Race (CBS), 1.61
48. Dr. Ken (CBS), 1.60
49. South Park (Comedy), 1.59
50. Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC), 1.58
Total Viewers (in millions)
1. Sunday Night Football: Indianapolis-Pittsburgh (NBC), 19.23
2. Thursday Night Football: Green Bay-Detroit (CBS/NFLN), 18.02
3. Empire (Fox), 15.48
4. The Voice-Monday (NBC), 14.09
5. The Wiz Live! (NBC), 13.44
6. The Voice-Tuesday (NBC), 13.07
7. Chicago Med (NBC), 11.79
8. Criminal Minds (CBS), 11.58
9. Chicago Fire (NBC), 11.38
10. Code Black (CBS), 11.05
10. Survivor (CBS), 11.05
12. Modern Family (ABC), 10.82
13. Monday Night Football: Baltimore-Cleveland (ESPN), 10.16
14. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-r (CBS), 10.05
15. Supergirl (CBS), 9.89
15. Big 10 Football Championship Game: Michigan State-Iowa (Fox), 9.89
17. Sinatra 100 Grammy Concert (CBS), 9.53
18. 60 Minutes-8 p.m. (CBS), 9.48
19. 60 Minutes (CBS), 9.00
20. The Middle (ABC), 8.97
21. The Goldbergs (ABC), 8.34
22. Christmas in Rockefeller Center (NBC), 8.28
23. A Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC), 8.26
24. Superstore preview-10 p.m. (NBC), 8.19
25. Blue Bloods (CBS), 8.18
————–
26. 60 Minutes (CBS), 8.12
27. Last Man Standing (ABC), 8.08
28. NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS), 8.00
29. It’s Your 50th Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC), 7.52
30. Black-ish (ABC), 7.44
31. Shark Tank (ABC), 7.41
32. The Amazing Race (CBS), 7.17
33. Quantico (ABC), 7.10
33. Scorpion (CBS), 7.10
35. ACC Football Championship Game: Clemson-North Carolina (ABC), 6.94
36. NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), 6.52
37. CMA Country Christmas (ABC), 6.38
38. How the Grinch Stole Christmas-r (NBC), 6.37
39. Dr. Ken (ABC), 6.33
40. Nashville (ABC), 6.31
41. Gotham (Fox), 6.27
42. Rosewood (Fox), 6.26
43. Superstore preview-10:30 p.m. (NBC), 6.19
43. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS), 6.19
45. The Simpsons (Fox), 6.07
46. Once Upon a Time (ABC), 5.98
47. The O’Reilly Factor-Wednesday (FNC), 5.94
48. Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD (ABC), 5.87
49. 20/20 (ABC), 5.72
50. Grimm (NBC), 5.65
WEEK 10: Nov. 23-29, 2015
Adults 18-49 rating
1. The Walking Dead (AMC), 9.3
2. NFL special-Thursday: Chicago-Green Bay (NBC), 9.0
3. Sunday Night Football: New England-Denver (NBC), 8.5
4. Monday Night Football: Buffalo-New England (ESPN), 5.1
5. Empire (Fox), 5.0
6. The Big Bang Theory-r (CBS), 3.4
7. Into the Badlands (AMC), 3.2
8. The Voice-Monday (NBC), 3.1
9. Blindspot (NBC), 3.0
10. NCIS (CBS), 2.87
11. Dancing With the Stars finale (ABC), 2.68
12. 60 Minutes (CBS), 2.65
13. Chicago Fire (NBC), 2.64
14. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (ABC), 2.61
15. Life in Pieces (CBS), 2.53
16. Chicago Med (NBC), 2.47
17. Quantico (ABC), 2.44
18. Survivor (CBS), 2.39
19. The Voice-Tuesday (NBC), 2.38
19. Dancing With the Stars (ABC), 2.38
21. Scorpion (CBS), 2.27
22. 2 Broke Girls (CBS), 2.24
23. Once Upon a Time (ABC), 2.23
24. NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), 2.17
25. Mom (CBS), 2.14
25. Supergirl (CBS), 2.14
————–
27. Gotham (Fox), 2.13
28. College football: Notre Dame-Stanford (Fox), 2.04
29. Limitless (CBS), 1.93
30. Code Black (CBS), 1.84
31. NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS), 1.78
32. Talking Dead (AMC), 1.76
33. Castle (ABC), 1.73
34. Love & Hip-Hop Hollywood (VH1), 1.68
35. Gold Rush (DISC), 1.67
36. The Amazing Race (CBS), 1.60
36. Real Housewives of Atlanta (Bravo), 1.60
36. Elementary (CBS), 1.60
39. Frosty the Snowman (CBS), 1.59
40. Madam Secretary (CBS), 1.56
41. Rosewood (Fox), 1.48
42. The Good Wife (CBS), 1.47
43. Scream Queens (Fox), 1.46
44. College football: Mississippi-Mississippi State (ESPN), 1.45
44. College football: Oklahoma-Oklahoma State (ABC), 1.45
46. Keeping Up With the Kardashians (E!), 1.44
47. College football-Friday: Baylor-TCU (ESPN), 1.41
48. Blood & Oil (ABC), 1.38
49. The Walking Dead, 8 p.m.-r (AMC), 1.37
49. Modern Family-r (ABC), 1.37
Total Viewers (in millions)
1. NFL Special-Thursday: Chicago-Green Bay (NBC), 27.87
2. Sunday Night Football: New England-Denver (NBC), 25.31
3. NCIS (CBS), 19.36
4. The Walking Dead (AMC), 18.28
5. Dancing With the Stars finale (ABC), 14.95
6. 60 Minutes (CBS), 14.72
7. Dancing With the Stars (ABC), 14.56
8. Monday Night Football: Buffalo-New England (ESPN), 14.31
9. NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), 14.22
10. Empire (Fox), 13.14
11. The Big Bang Theory-r (CBS), 12.76
12. Madam Secretary (CBS), 12.04
13. The Voice-Monday (NBC), 11.97
14. Scorpion (CBS), 11.48
15. The Voice-Tuesday (NBC), 11.09
16. Blindspot (NBC), 10.73
17. The Good Wife (CBS), 10.26
18. Chicago Fire (NBC), 10.20
19. NCIS: Los Angeles (CBS), 10.11
20. Survivor (CBS), 9.85
21. Chicago Med (NBC), 9.79
22. Code Black (CBS), 9.55
23. Castle (ABC), 8.99
24. Supergirl (CBS), 8.97
25. Life in Pieces (CBS), 8.90
————–
26. Limitless (CBS), 8.86
27. A Charlie Brown Christmas (ABC), 8.76
28. Mom (CBS), 8.23
29. Elementary (CBS), 8.06
30. Blue Bloods (CBS), 8.04
31. 2 Broke Girls (CBS), 7.57
32. Quantico (ABC), 7.45
33. College football: Notre Dame-Stanford (Fox), 7.34
34. The Amazing Race (CBS), 7.26
35. Into the Badlands (AMC), 6.69
36. Once Upon a Time (ABC), 6.23
37. The Middle (ABC), 6.16
38. Hawaii Five-0 (CBS), 6.04
39. Frosty the Snowman (CBS), 5.79
39. Gotham (Fox), 5.79
41. Rosewood (Fox), 5.76
42. America’s Funniest Home Videos (ABC), 5.44
43. The Goldbergs-r (ABC), 5.43
44. 20/20 (ABC), 5.36
45. Movie: A Christmas Detour (HALL), 5.33
46. Modern Family-r (ABC), 5.24
47. College football-Friday: Baylor-TCU (ESPN), 5.11
48. Gold Rush (DISC), 5.10
49. 48 Hours (CBS), 4.96
50. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (ABC), 4.85
Source: Nielsen (each 18-49 ratings point represents roughly 1.27 million viewers)
