Posted on 10/16/2018 2:03:12 PM PDT by EdnaMode
The Walking Dead was all about looking to the future on Sunday but when it comes to the ratings, the future is looking increasingly bleak for the AMC zombie apocalypse series.
With a 2.0 rating among adults 18-49, the second episode of the ninth season of the show based on Robert Kirkman’s comics took the small screen’s once top rated show off a cliff to an all-time series low. “The Bridge” episode comes off last week’s highly promoted season opener, which was the lowest debut for the series and the second least watched premiere.
The October 14 TWD snagged an audience of 5 million, which was a drop of 19% from the October 7 season opener of the reset series. Among the 18-49, TWD fell 21% from the Season 9 debut.
On a show now available early on the no-ad AMC Premiere service and increasingly leaning towards delayed viewing, those drops are actually a tiny bit less than the comparative declines in Season 8. Also, TWD was facing the bite of a much watched Boston Red Sox’s win over the Houston Astros in the ALCS on October 14 and Tom Brady making some NFL history on a rising Sunday Night Football.
However, and even with the overall same day decline on both broadcast and cable that doesn’t take away from the fact that TWD is performing worst now in the demo and with viewers than even its first few episodes of the abbreviated Season 1 back in 2019 did. It also cannot avoid the reality that in the key demo “The Bridge” cratered 50% from what “The Damned” second episode of a declining Season 8 drew on October 29 last year.
AMC, of course, like to save their powder for the Live +3 numbers that are expected later this week.
With all that, TWD has a potential ace card or two to still play this season. Series OG Andrew Lincoln is leaving for good this year and Lauren Cohan is stepping out to be co-lead on the ABC midseason newbie Whiskey Cavalier. So far, exactly when and at what point in the season those departures will occur has not been unveiled. Yet, if past big moments on TWD are any indication, they will certainly be well watched, on one platform or another.
Seems like alot of sex in the episodes I’ve watched so far this season.
Not so.
The big cable companies (AT&T, Spectrum, etc.) pull their own data from the boxes/cards. Then, there are new technologies like Symphony. And more direct competitors like Rentrak and Comscore.
I've not heard of tvgrimreaper, but if that's what they say, they're still living in the 1980s.
Yeah. It is more of the same.
Series should seriously consider ending by a 5th season. After that, it seems the writers get repetitive and the programs becomes dull.
I can recall very little from last season. I sort of watched it in the background. I removed this season from my TiVo recorder. I lost interest.
They got too formulaic. Big death at every midseason. Not to mention following the books way too closely. Of course with Rick and Maggie leaving they will now have to hue far from the books. Should breath some life back into it.
this info is not provided to Nielsen and billions of dollars are spent based on Nielsen ratings alone.
If you’re not in a Nielsen family, your viewing isn’t measured for TV ratings.
Worth repeating (particularly to the innumerate TV media).
Broadcast primetime entertainment ratings fall every season, and within seasons from Fall to Spring, so tying or setting new all time ratings lows is the norm, not the exception.
https://twitter.com/TVGrimReaper/status/1050808265678811136
Program ratings measure the viewing of the avg minute of an entire show (incl commercials).
Commercial ratings measure the viewing of the avg minute of the commercials only.
Only commercial viewing matters for ad revenue/pricing.
Shows like this really need to end before they die of low ratings. Go out on somewhat of a high note rather than get put out of its misery.
If you aren't a Nielsen family, your viewing won't be measured by Nielsen for NIELSEN ratings. But you may be measured by competitors for their rating services. And an increasing number of broadcasters have realized the shortcomings of Nielsen and have switched to competitors. And the cable giants rely on their own, real time data (although some also sell to Nielsen.) So, I suppose my question to you is, "Do you consider those indirect data captures from unknowing customers to be data from Nielsen families?"
The last season was kind of stupid. The whole Negin thing has gone on WAY too long.
^ This + 1 They dragged it out way too long without giving the protagonists a major win and lost the audience. They thought they could milk the fad for bucks without giving the viewers something to feel good about. This is TV now, newage SJW B.S.
AMC has a new streaming service and to get anyone to use it they’re offering new episodes of TWD a day earlier than their broadcast premiere, so that isn’t helping the TV ratings either.
I don’t follow the live+3 rule.
I always thouight the show lost a lot after season 2.
Could have been a cool show but it’s just stupid.
I quit in 2014. Loved it at one time. After they could have renamed it “Carol Kicks Ass,” I was out. And the plots had more holes and PC than Swiss cheese.
I don't mean it's about the undead.
I mean it's a show you started watching years ago with enthusiasm and just go on watching out of habit.
I'm not saying it's an awful show, just that it's not as engrossing as it used to be.
(Or maybe a "zombie" show is one that is still on the air even though you thought it was cancelled years ago.)
Shelley Long or McLean Stevenson should have a talk with her.
Well, if Rick is leaving anyway, seems like ending the series is a no-brainer...
Yup.
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