Sci Fi Cancellation Watch: The Numbers Remain Low for the Broadcast Net Shows Like Wayward Pines, The Whispers, Under the Dome, and Extant

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.

wayward_pines_fox_cancelledMostly just a rundown of the numbers from the prior week here, but next week I will resume with more detailed analyses.  It is worth noting that most of the broadcast network genre entries remained low as several shows that looked like they were still struggling for renewal (particularly ABC’s The Whispers and FOX’s Wayward Pines) appear to be could be losing that battle.  CBS’ Zoo looks like the only safe broadcast net entry at the moment, but it did slip in the ratings and total viewers last week.  You will find more commentary on each show below.

Ratings results for the sci fi / fantasy shows airing Monday July 13th thru Sunday July 19th (metric definitions below):

The Whispers ABC Mon 7/13 10 PM
Rating: 0.9 | % Chng PW: +12.5% | Tot Viewers (MM): 3.6 | StD Rating: 1.0 | Cancellation Alert: Medium

It improved slightly from its last episode, but with no renewal announcement yet and the actors no longer bound to the show because their contracts have lapsed, the chances for this one continue to look grim.

Teen Wolf MTV Mon 7/13 10 PM
Rating: 0.4 | % Chng PW: -33.3% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.0 | StD Rating: 0.5 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed

It dropped two ticks from its last episode, but it has already been renewed for a sixth season and it is in the syndication stretch so a seventh looks like a good bet as well.

Chart Activity: This one slipped in the Weekly Nielsen Twitter Ratings Top 10 to the Number 9 slot, but I’m betting it will rebound next week.

Stitchers ABCF Tue 7/14 9 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.7 | StD Rating: 0.4 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed

This low-rated, “ratings noise” cable series apparently did enough to get a second season renewal.  It either has international backing or the ABC Family execs just like it.  More at this link.

Zoo CBS Tue 7/14 9 PM
Rating: 1.0 | % Chng PW: -16.7% | Tot Viewers (MM): 6.6 | StD Rating: 1.1 | Cancellation Alert: Low

This one has been on a steady downward trend as far as total viewers go, which is not a good thing. And it took a drop in the ratings for the 18-49 demo this last week.  If it can hold or turn around its numbers, I believe it will still be okay. But if it continues to slip, then its Cancellation Alert level will go up.

Chart Activity: This show slipped to Number 18 (down from Number 12) in the broadcast network Top 25 based on the overnight ratings for the 18-49 demographic and to Number 9 (down from Number 3) in the Top 25 based on total viewers.

Proof TNT Tue 7/14 10 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: -25.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.8 | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate

It slipped back down again, but likely got some encouragement when Stitchers received its renewal announcement.  Apparently these cable shows (some of them at least) can survive at this level.  More at this link.

Scream MTV Tue 7/14 10 PM
Rating: 0.4 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.9 | StD Rating: 0.4 | Cancellation Alert: Low

No change for this show and I believe these numbers are still good enough to get it a second season.  We will see if it can hold at these levels.

Extant CBS Wed 7/15 10 PM
Rating: 0.6 | % Chng PW: -25.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 4.6 | StD Rating: 0.7 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate

It slipped to a new series low and CBS finally made the smart move and shifted it and hour earlier to have Big Brother as its lead-in instead of burying it after a repeat of Criminal Minds. Expect that to help its numbers at least a little bit, but we will have to see how much.

Chart Activity: This show slipped completely out of the broadcast network Top 25 with its numbers drop last week (it was previously at Number 20 based on total viewers).

Beauty and the Beast CW Thu 7/16 8 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: +50.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.0 | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed

Back up to the 0.3 ratings level (after the final results came in).  So now maybe The CW will go ahead and renew it for a fifth season . . .

Wayward Pines FOX Thu 7/16 9 PM
Rating: 0.9 | % Chng PW: -10.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 3.3 | StD Rating: 1.1 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate

This one slipped to a series low, which is not good.  If it can improve notably with its finale this week, that will help its chances.  Though I hear that FOX is promoting it as a “series” finale.

Chart Activity: This show slipped out of the broadcast network Top 25 based on the overnight ratings for the 18-49 demographic for the week (it was previously at Number 24).

Under the Dome CBS Thu 7/16 9 PM
Rating: 0.9 | % Chng PW: -18.2% | Tot Viewers (MM): 4.8 | StD Rating: 1.1 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate

This one is down to a series low which prompts me to move it to a Moderate Cancellation Alert level.  It is surviving on its Amazon partnership and international financing at this point, but at what point does CBS consider replacing it with something that draws more viewers.

Chart Activity: This show slipped to Number 22 (down from Number 16) in the Top 25 based on the overnight ratings for 18-49 demo and fell completely out of the Top 25 based on total viewers (it was previously at Number 19).

Dominion Syfy Thu 7/16 10 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.0 | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Low

It held steady at a 0.3 rating for a second week in a row.  That’s good for Syfy these days.

Defiance Syfy Fri 7/17 8 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: -33.3% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.1 | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate

This one is back down to a 0.2 rating, which is not good.  It’s likely an expensive show to produce and was once pegged as a flagship show for the network.  Can it survive with these numbers?

Killjoys Syfy Fri 7/17 9 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.0 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate

No improvement yet for this show, but it still has a chance because Syfy has been patient with its freshman entries of late.

The Messengers CW Fri 7/17 9 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.6 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Cancelled

Apparently this one still has one more episode to go in its burn-off run.  No chance any ratings results from that one will change The CW’s mind about its cancellation.

Dark Matter Syfy Fri 7/17 10 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.0 | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate

A second week in a row at this level, which is not too bad for Syfy these days.  It’s possible we could hear a renewal for this and Killjoys in the next week or two.

Atlantis BBCA Sat 7/18 9 PM
Rating: 0.0 | % Chng PW: -50.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.1 | StD Rating: 0.0 | Cancellation Alert: Cancelled

This one continues to barely register in the ratings with only a 0.02 score as it burns off its remaining episodes.

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell BBCA Sat 7/18 10 PM
Rating: 0.0 | % Chng PW: +33.3% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.2 | StD Rating: 0.1 | Cancellation Alert: Mini-Series

Not much of an audience has flocked to this one as it pulled only a 0.04 rating in the 18-49 demo based on the overnights.  But it is apparently only planned as a mini-series.

Hannibal NBC Thu 7/16 10 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: -25.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.2 | StD Rating: 0.5 | Cancellation Alert: Cancelled

It only dropped one tick with its move to Saturdays.  Maybe NBC should re-consider a fourth season and keep it on this night.

Humans AMC Sun 7/19 9 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: +25.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.1 | StD Rating: 0.4 | Cancellation Alert: Low

The ratings are still low in the U.S., but I hear that it is performing much better on Channel 4 in Britain.  It still has a chance at a second season.

The Last Ship TNT Sun 7/19 9 PM
Rating: 0.7 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 3.0 | StD Rating: 0.7 | Cancellation Alert: Low

This show continues to hold a steady course and I expect a third season renewal announcement at any time now.

Chart Activity: This show slipped a couple of rungs in the cable Top 25 based on total viewers going from Number 12 to Number 14.

Golan the Insatiable FOX Sun 7/19 9:30 PM
Rating: 0.5 | % Chng PW: 0.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.2 | StD Rating: 0.5 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate

No change from last week for its final Season 2 episode.  It has a chance of continuing on FXX, but I don’t believe we will see any more new eps airing on FOX.

The Strain FX Sun 7/19 10 PM
Rating: 0.7 | % Chng PW: -12.5% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.6 | StD Rating: 0.8 | Cancellation Alert: Low

It slipped a tick from its Season 2 premiere, but it’s still looking good for a cable show these days.  If it holds at or around these levels it should be okay.

Falling Skies TNT Sun 7/19 10 PM
Rating: 0.5 | % Chng PW: +25.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 2.0 | StD Rating: 0.5 | Cancellation Alert: Final Season

This one improved slightly as it continues to run through its fifth and final season.

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.

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.

Ratings Source: TV by the Numbers and ShowBuzzDaily

Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2015 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.

Author: admin

2 thoughts on “Sci Fi Cancellation Watch: The Numbers Remain Low for the Broadcast Net Shows Like Wayward Pines, The Whispers, Under the Dome, and Extant

  1. Moderator, could you edit a sentence for me in the first comment and then delete this comment? Hopefully? The sentence should read: I know very few viewers in this day and age with the time to watch shows as they are aired, on the preset schedules of the networks. Thank you. JMR

  2. i am not watching ANY of the shows anymore. Still fighting to get witches of east end and forever picked up by someone. The only other show I am waiting on is haven. I am tired of getting interested in a show only to find myself spending all my time on Twitter and petition sites trying to save it for the next season! I know no one with the time to sit in front of a television on their schedule and watch what I like as it is aired. I sometimes don’t have a chance to watch until a week or two later, but I don’t dvr. I watch on demand, which also airs the commercials. Only fair if the sponsors are paying for the show. If they are not going to find a better system than Nielsen, why bother? My other pet peeve? I didn’t die at 49 and I have money to buy the sponsors products, so stop with the age brackets for viewers. Even an eighty nine year old has children, grandchildren, and great grand children to influence about buying choices! Not to mention that a lot of us are and always will be 22 inside! Lol give it a rest! Maybe viewers could pay a quarter for a voting call at the end of each season to allow the networks to clue in to their audience? And block sponsor produced network shows from dvr so commercials would be seen, because fast forward does not work in the on demand format. Ok! Rant over. Lol now, any news on WHEN Haven will air again! Soon, please!

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