Update: “Hannibal” opened to a 1.6 adults 18-49 rating with 4.31 million viewers. Though it built on its “Go On” lead-in (1.1 rating, 2.43 million), ranked as NBC’s second-best program of the night (behind “The Office,” 1.7 with 3.42 million) and holds up against NBC’s other weekly 10PM programs, this is still a disappointing premiere number for such a heavily-hyped show.
The heavily-hyped premiere of “Hannibal” ranked as NBC’s top program in the overnight metered market ratings, reports TV Media Insights.
But was it a truly good bow for the show? The overnights do not make it clear (though they do reveal miniscule overall viewership).
With even “The Office” trapped in a trench of soft ratings, NBC’s Thursday numbers have been weak all season. And that makes it hard to render an early assessment on “Hannibal.”
Its 3.1 in the overnights represents a year-over-year gain over failed timeslot occupant “Awake” (2.1) and a slight intra-network victory over “The Office” (2.7), but it still reflects a very slim overall audience, and it makes no commentary on performance within adults 18-49.
The previous original episode of “The Office” managed a 1.9 adults 18-49 rating with a 2.6 in the overnights, but there is no guarantee “Hannibal” will skew the same way. In fact, due to the nature of the content, it almost certainly skewed older.
One irrefutable positive? “Hannibal” built considerably on its “Go On” lead-in. The Matthew Perry-fronted comedy posted a 1.8 overnight number.
Other NBC overnight numbers: “Community” (2.1.), “Parks and Recreation” (2.3).
