The Live+7 ratings for the broadcast premiere week came out this week. As we previously reported, the series premiere of the freshman ABC drama Designated Survivor set a new record for the largest-ever total viewer L+7 increase for any single telecast on any network, adding 7.7 million viewers in the first seven days of playback.
Will Hart/NBC
Overall, as could be expected, a larger portion of series’ adults 18-49 L+7 ratings come from time-shifted viewing this year. Last fall, the largest L7 18-49 percent gain for a Big 4 series during premiere week was 83%. This year, there were five series to post a L7 demo lift of +100% and above, led by NBC’s The Blacklist (108%).
However, that does not translate to higher L7 ratings vs. last year as the base L+SD numbers have shrunk. Last year, there were five entertainment series to post a 18-49 L7 rating of 5 or higher. This year, it was only two, Empire and The Big Bang Theory. Last year, there were three entertainment series to draw L7 viewership of more than 22 million. This time, there were none.
Looking at the networks’ averages, as was the case in L+SD Premiere Week ratings (you can read my analysis here), NBC and CBS had a strong premiere week with solid showings for all of their new series, while ABC and Fox saw mixed results. You can see in the networks’ rankers below, NBC and CBS are roughly on par with last fall’s premiere week in L7 18-49 and total viewers while ABC and Fox are off.
Premiere Week All Programs, L7 18-49 rating
Net….2015…2016…Diff
NBC …3.30….3.16…-4%
CBS…..3.10….3.00…-3%
ABC….2.25….1.83….-19%
Fox…..2.48….2.01…-19%
Premiere Week All Programs, Total Viewers (000)
Net…..2015…2016…Diff
NBC …10672…10771…+1%
CBS….13224…13261…+0.3%
ABC…..9181….7905….-14%
Fox……5691.…5164…..-9%
Here is a full list of the Premiere Week programs ranked by L7 lifts in total viewers and adults 18-49:
