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.
CBS announced the cancellation of Under the Dome last week, but the network’s two other Summer sci fi shows, Zoo and Extant, have yet to hear word on their fates. Based on last week’s numbers, though, things are not looking too promising for either. Zoo slipped to a 1.0 rating based on the Overnights for the 18-49 demographicn with six million total viewers while Extant slipped to a series low of a 0.6 rating with 4.7 million total viewers. Zoo‘s numbers aren’t terrible at this point–for a Summer entry–but it is likely an expensive show to produce (due to the cost of working with animals) so CBS would probably prefer to see at least slightly better ratings. Because it continues to walk a pretty fine line, I’m going to raise its Cancellation Alert status to Moderate, though I don’t consider it in too much danger at this point. If it can maintain its average of a 1.1 rating based on the Overnights, I believe it still has a chance. If it slips, then the danger level increases, and it would be much better off if it could get its numbers back in the 1.2 range. As for Extant, I was thinking that CBS might consider giving it one more season since they decided to cancel Under the Dome. But at these numbers, that’s seeming less likely. Perhaps the Amazon partnership will be enough to keep the show afloat for another year, thus the reason I am not raising the Cancellation Alert, but I have to think that CBS is seriously considering other options for their Summer schedule next year. Extant has its season finale tonight while Zoo wraps up next week, and those final numbers will be crucial to each show’s future. And if there is no improvement for Extant, we could be hearing an announcement for it as early as this week. Keep a close eye on this site and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for those numbers and any announcements.
Also struggling is Syfy’s sophomore series Dominion. That one started out the season with decent numbers, but has slipped just recently and last week dipped to a series low of a 0.17 rating based on the Overnights for the 18-49 demo with 770K total viewers. That show performed consistently at a 0.3 rating–good for Syfy these days–for over a month when it returned, but its recent downward trend is concerning. It still has four more episodes to go, so it could make a surge to end the season. But if it doesn’t get back up into the 0.3 range, then I believe that its chances for a third season are not as good. I am raising it to a Moderate Cancellation Alert status at this point, and that could go higher if the ratings don’t turn around.
Ratings results for the sci fi / fantasy shows airing Monday August 31st thru Sunday September 7th (metric definitions below):
(Updated for Chart Activity in the Top 25 for the broadcast and cable networks)
The Whispers ABC Mon 8/31 10 PM
Rating: 0.7 | % Chng PW: +16.7% | Tot Viewers (MM): 2.8 | StD Rating: 0.8 | Cancellation Alert: Elevated
It improved for its season finale, but not by enough to make much of a difference. The fact that ABC has yet to make an announcement on this one suggests that it is almost certainly a goner.
Teen Wolf MTV Mon 8/31 10 PM
Rating: Season Ended | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 0.5 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
First half of fifth season completed, returns in 2016 for second half.
Zoo CBS Tue 9/1 9 PM
Rating: 1.0 | % Chng PW: -9.1% | Tot Viewers (MM): 6.0 | StD Rating: 1.1 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
This show was back down again which is not a good thing as it heads toward its season finale next week. More on this one above.
Chart Activity: It slipped to the Number 19 slot (down from Number 15) in the broadcast network Top 25 based on the Overnight ratings in the 18-49 demo but it improved in the Top 25 based on total viewers to Number 9 (up from Number 10).
Scream MTV Tue 9/1 10 PM
Rating: 0.3 | % Chng PW: +21.4% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.8 | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
It improved to a 0.34 rating for its season finale and continues to perform well for MTV’s younger target demographic. I’m even hearing this one referred to as a “hit series”, though they must be using a pretty loose definition of that term.
Chart Activity: This show did manage to make it back to the Weekly Nielsen Twitter Ratings Top 10 for its season finale, though just barely at the Number 10 slot.
Extant CBS Wed 9/2 9 PM
Rating: 0.6 | % Chng PW: -25.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 4.7 | StD Rating: 0.7 | Cancellation Alert: Medium
This one slipped to a series low, and its chances for a third season keep slipping as well. More on this one above.
Chart Activity: Even though its numbers were down week over week, it managed to improve one notch to Number 18 in the broadcast network Top 25 based on total viewers.
Beauty and the Beast(R) CW Thu 9/3 8 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.6 | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
This show aired a repeat, and its numbers stayed the same! Is that good, is that bad? I can’t really say. But it’s coming back next Summer for a fourth season.
Under the Dome CBS Thu 9/3 9 PM
Rating: 0.8 | % Chng PW: -11.1% | Tot Viewers (MM): 3.7 | StD Rating: 0.9 | Cancellation Alert: Cancelled
The dome is coming down, but not too many people appear to care as the numbers slipped for the show’s penultimate episode. Thursday is the series finale.
Chart Activity: Despite sneaking into the Top 25 based on total viewers the prior week, this one fell out of the charts for its series finale.
Dominion Syfy Thu 9/3 10 PM
Rating: 0.2 | % Chng PW: -19.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 0.8 | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
At a 0.17 rating, this show found itself at a series low which is not a good thing. More on this one above.
Defiance Syfy Fri 9/4 8 PM
Rating: Season Ended | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 0.3 | Cancellation Alert: Medium
Season ended, awaiting word on a fourth season renewal.
Dark Matter Syfy Fri 9/4 10 PM
Rating: Season Ended | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 0.2 | Cancellation Alert: Moderate
Season ended, renewed for a second year.
Hannibal NBC Sat 9/5 10 PM
Rating: Series Ended | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 0.4 | Cancellation Alert: Cancelled
Season ended, series cancelled.
Fear the Walking Dead AMC Sun 9/6 9 PM
Rating: Preempted | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 4.5 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
Preempted, returns with new episodes next week.
The Last Ship TNT Sun 9/6 9 PM
Rating: 0.7 | % Chng PW: -17.5% | Tot Viewers (MM): 2.8 | StD Rating: 0.7 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
This show slipped for its season finale, but that’s mostly a factor of it airing on Labor Day weekend. It returns for its third season next Summer.
Chart Activity: It slipped one notch to the Number 18 slot in the cable Top 25 based on total viewers, but that was likely due to the fact it aired on the Sunday before Labor Day.
The Strain FX Sun 9/6 10 PM
Rating: 0.5 | % Chng PW: -18.0% | Tot Viewers (MM): 1.2 | StD Rating: 0.6 | Cancellation Alert: Renewed
This series also took a Labor Day hit to its ratings, but nothing to be concerned about as it has already been renewed for a third season.
Falling Skies TNT Sun 9/6 10 PM
Rating: Series Ended | % Chng PW: n/a | Tot Viewers (MM): n/a | StD Rating: 0.5 | Cancellation Alert: Final Season
Series ended.
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: ©2015 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.
