‘Vampire Academy’ Adds ‘Modern … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Shark Tank’ Finale Up, … 
Friday Box Office: ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ … 
Cannes: Worldview Options Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn … 
UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
‘Mike & Molly’ Creator Mark Roberts To … 
Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts Set For … 
Hammond On Cannes: Weinstein Brings Out Stars For 2013 … 
Cannes: Fake Gunshots Interrupt Canal Plus Live Broadcast … 
‘The Great Gatsby’ Starts With $5.4M … 
Cannes: Music Box Snags Competition’s ‘Michael … 
UPDATE: Amazon Studios Begins Pilot Pickups; … 
Bruce Rosenblum Bids Classy Goodbye 
RATINGS RAT RACE UPDATE: ‘American Idol’ Hits … 
UPDATE: ‘Iron Man 3′ Box Office Crosses $1B … 
Upfront Market: Will Auto Makers Subsidize TV … 
Cannes: Thief Makes Off With $1M+ In Chopard Jewelry Meant … 
‘Scandal’ Finale On Small Screen And Onstage At … 
‘Modern Family’ Gets Cable Makeover For Launch … 
Adam Sandler To Leno: “Maybe Go To Fox” 
Anyone Care Who Won ‘American Idol’? 
On the heels of sweeping the Emmys a week ago, Showtime‘s Homeland opened its second season with 1.73 million viewers at 10 PM last night, up 60% from its series debut last fall and marking a new series high for the terrorism thriller, edging the first-season finale (1.7 million). This was Showtime’s most-watched second-season premiere ever, outpacing Shameless‘ sophomore season opener (1.58 million).
Homeland‘s performance last night was impressive, but how about veteran Dexter posting ratings records in its seventh season? The serial-killer drama drew 2.4 million at 9 PM last night, its most-watched premiere ever, to provide a great lead-in for Homeland. Dexter extended its unprecedented streak, going up in the ratings in every premiere since the series’ 2006 launch — that is six consecutive years of ratings growth. For the night, Dexter averaged 3.04 million viewers, up 10% vs. last season’s premiere night; Homeland (2.07 million) was up 50% to deliver Showtime’s most watched Sunday night ever. The dramas rank as Showtime’s two highest-rated series. As for Emmy success’ impact on Homeland, the series’ Season 1 registered some 1 million on-demand views over the past week, following the Emmy Awards where the series won four statuettes, including best drama series.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
Loading ...
Need a ratings system that reflects these numbers along with the network figures. Also DVR facts.
Nielsen reflects all these things. It’s too early for DVR because it was only on yesterday? What do you even mean by network figures? Just because it’s not discussed in the article doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, this info is taken from a press release I’m sure.
Press releases can be premature, and just plain wrong.
Or at the very least — ill advised.
Homeland Season 2 Premiere 2.07 (How many viewings?)
Shameless Season 2 Premiere 2.06 (2 viewings.)
Homeland follows Dexter, while Shameless needs no introduction.
Homeland won 6 Emmys including Drama Series, while Shameless is still waiting for the Dramedy category.
10,000 more viewers 10 months later on an always growing network.
Congrats? #2 my ***.
Someone needs to do a case study on how shows like DEXTER, SONS OF ANARCHY, and BREAKING BAD are able to grow ratings beyond the third season. Obviously, people like what they see and tell their friends; the audience expands when viewers get hooked via repeats, home video, etc. But what are the networks doing to spur this along? If the strategy is to build an audience, what are the tactics?
Netflix, word of mouth, awards, making good shows.
Networks…Tactics…
BaHa-Ha-Ha-Ha-Ha-HaHaHaHaHaHaHa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The answer is right here. teh internets. Between this place and a couple other sites, I hear everything I need to know about every American TV show and a good proportion of the notable ones made overseas, to decide which ones are worth checking out.
Homeland’s surge might explaim some of why 666 Park Ave didn’t even get sampling. The ratings should have been good for the premiere despite what people might have thought of the show, just because of the good lewd ins and good match of subject matter and ABC’s audience (which The Last Resort didn’t have). The fall off due to disappointment happens the second week.
Oops lead ins. I was thinking of Starz haha.
Pretty obvious that this would happen to Dexter considering where the show ended last season.
And with such a great storyline opening the bew season, one that fans have been waiting forever, it really is even more of a no brainer that even in season 7 this would happen.
As for Homeland, kind of expected too. People went out and got that show however they could thanks to the buzz from last year and Emmy nominations/wins over the summer.
I was about to write something similar. Last season’s finale for “Dexter” was bound to have this effect.
As for “Homeland”, I am one of the few who was unimpressed with Danes’ histrionics and bug-eyed, sniveling portrayal of a federal agent; a portrayal that gives new meaning to “suspension of disbelief”. And Patinkin’s shtick is just tired and old hat for him.
“Homeland” is a poor man’s “24″.
Well, I’m so glad you have nothing to do with the making of great tv, or it would be ruined.
Cynical critic you have no taste in acting or story telling. You must work for a network.
i know this is swimming against the tide (everyone is supposed to think homeland is the greatest new show), but i agree that there is a lot of overacting — and that the characters verge on silly.
I look at it as a more nuanced version of 24 with a lil bit of Mad Men, The Wire and The Munchurian Canidate thrown in there.
I think another big factor in attracting new viewers in second, third or even 7th seasons, is that these cable shows are only 13 episodes long each season.
The time/effort/cost to catch up is drastically reduced when, for example with Homeland, you only need to watch 13 episodes to be up-to-date, unlike a network series when you need to watch 22-24 episodes to catch up on just one season.
It is a lot less daunting to the average person to plan to watch 13 episodes to catch up then it is to watch 22. This gets even more daunting the longer the series run. If you wanted to catch up on Lost 4 seasons in because of the hype that meant committing to watching about 66 episodes. With shows like Dexter, Sons of Anarchy, etc… that would be half as much.
Agreed that it SEEMS daunting – but when you skip commercials, those Network shows are A LOT shorter than the average HBO/Showtime show – probably about 10-15 minutes shorter an episode. So you make up time that way.
A good point — one that crossed my mind just last week when I discussed REVOLUTION and LAST RESORT with an editor friend. If you’re going to invest your 20+ hours of your precious time in a show with serialized drama or a mystery/mythology arc, it better be really good. “Pretty good” and “getting better” just doesn’t cut it
I totally agree. On top of that, the showrunner of a 12-show season is better able to exert quality control in writing and execution (longer layoffs between seasons, less creative burnout) . We all know how 24 would always flag halfway through the season as the writers would tread water to make it to the final few hours. A compelling 12-hour story arc will definitely keep people coming back for more seasons.
Another thing: the 12-episode shows run on pay and basic cable, which repeat their episodes like crazy, making it easier for people who miss an episode to catch up later in the week when the show is rerun. I’ve always thought there should be a CBS2, ABC2, NBC2 that could rerun current content but on different schedules, and be able to air marathons of serialized shows to hook new viewers.
That was one of the reasons Disney bought Fox Family, in order to re-air ABC shows such as ALIAS. That never quite paid off, especially since they overpaid. Ironically, the upside was that ABC Family didn’t take long to hit a growth trajectory by programming its own 10-13 episode originals. That said, Disney has found opportunities to run REVENGE and HAPPY ENDINGS marathons on ABC Family. I’m sure the other network/cable empires have tried the same thing, at least a little. On a different note, I noticed CBS putting its stars in Time-Warner Cable VOD promos. Whatever works.
thats for sure; i loved 24 in its first few seasons, then i got bored by the repetition and the need to stretch out the season by letting the villains escape jack’s clutches over and over again.
Let’s keep it real.
Many ratings companies are being sued for “fudging the numbers” to favor studios for kickbacks.
My TV happened to be on Showtime when “Dexter” came on, and as I watched the openning credits in sheer horror and disgust I changed the channel. I’m sure I was counted as a “viewer”.
Clearly these shows picked up more viewers due to awards noms but no where near the #s purported.
I’m guessing you don’t know what a Nielsen box is, do you?
Really?
Let’s Be Real you have no idea what you’re even talking about.
“My TV happened to be on Showtime when “Dexter” came on, and as I watched the opening credits in sheer horror and disgust”….so i take it that you’re horrified of a good breakfast then?
Our Idiot Brother was the show on before Dexter, but it was Dexter that made you change the channel…really?
If you’re a Mandy P fan, you better tune in this season as it will be his last. You know, he walks out after 2 seasons of every show he works on. Check his track record.
Let’s be real, unless you are participating with Nielsen, your cable box does not “read” you as a viewer.
No surprised about Dexter after the cliffhanger of season 6. Unfortunately the show is still full of the dumb writing mistakes and lame plotting that affected the last couple of seasons (a kill room in an airport?)
Does anyone else remember that 24′s premier episodes were shown without commercials? I tried watching Falling Skies the traditional way last year and bailed out after the first 40 minutes because the commercial breaks seemed to be every 10 minutes or so. I loved 24 because no matter how implausible the plot twists got you always knew that Jack Bauer was going to kick ass and chew bubble gum. If Homeland’s episode last night was any indication of where this season is going I will be watching Netflix reruns of 24 instead.
One of the reasons Dexter, Son’s and Breaking Bad are such hit shows, is because the protagonist is the underdog.
How many of us can relate,,,?
The writers of course are to blame for these great shows! Damn you writers for being so damn awesome!!! Argh,,
Ratings don’t matter for Showtime/HBO shows, since they don’t sell ads. So why do we report them? Doesn’t matter to Showtime if you watch the premiere live or 6 months from now on your phone, just as long as you subscribe.
I’m assuming there’s some correlation between how many people watch their shows (and how eager they are to do so) and how many people subscribe.
I do not subscrube to Showtime but kept reading articles about Dexter and so I purchased the first season on DVD and that was it, I was hooked. When me and my husband at the time, we are since divorced, started watching an episode would end and we would both say ok we have time for one more before bedtime. It was truly addictive. Dexter is the underdog that we root for. Plus, doesn’t everyone want to see the murders who get off get theirs. Maybe that is it, we all want to see people get what is coming to them. Maybe Dexter’s name should actually be Karma.