Update: As the overnight metered market ratings correctly suggested, The CW’s “Star-Crossed” opened as a flop.
Monday’s series premiere delivered a mere 0.4 adults 18-49 rating. Viewership, which declined slightly as the show progressed, registered at a disappointing 1.24 million.
The figures collectively represent the worst premiere performance for a CW series this season.
“Beauty and the Beast,” which followed, managed a mere 0.3 rating with 0.77 million viewers.
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It appears The CW was right to renew freshmen series “The Originals” and “Reign” without definitive knowledge on how fellow new drama “Star-Crossed” would perform.
Monday’s series premiere delivered a paltry 1.1 overnight metered market rating.
That ranks as The CW’s weakest series premiere performance this season. “Reign,” the series previously responsible for the low mark, opened to a considerably stronger 1.5 overnight rating this fall.
It also offers only minimal improvement over the last performance by previous timeslot occupant “Hart of Dixie.” “Dixie,” which is not considered a ratings winner, delivered a 1.0 in the timeslot last week.
While NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics provided significant competition, the timeslot is not due to get significantly easier. “Star-Crossed” will never again face the Winter Olympics, but it will face NBC’s “The Voice” and CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother.”
There is no reason to believe it will fare significantly better against those shows. And insofar as few series retain their entire premiere audiences, there is a solid chance the show will deliver an even weaker rating next week.
“Beauty and the Beast,” which followed “Star-Crossed,” matched last week’s 0.7 rating.
