Update: Based on final Nielsen broadcast data, the season four premiere of ABC’s “Scandal” delivered series high marks in adults 18-49 and total viewers.
The episode, which aired in the show’s new 9PM timeslot, drew a 3.9 adults 18-49 with 12.16 million viewers. The former bests the adults 18-49 high previously held by the season three premiere by 8%, while the latter tops the audience high posted by the season three finale by 15%.
ABC bookended “Scandal” with “Grey’s Anatomy” at 8PM (3.1 rating, 10.14 million) and “How to Get Away with Murder” (3.9, 14.34 million) at 10PM.
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Building significantly on the season three finale number and potentially indicative of a series high in adults 18-49 and total viewers, the overnight rating for Thursday’s “Scandal” season premiere is undeniably impressive.
The fourth season opener, which saw “Scandal” debut in its new 9PM timeslot, drew a whopping 8.6 overnight household rating. It bests the season three finale number by 15%.
While there is no guarantee the adults 18-49 and total viewership numbers will be up by a similar percentage, there is absolutely a guarantee that “Scandal” performed very well against those metrics. And insofar as last year’s 7.5 rating for the finale translated into series high viewership, there is good reason to believe the same will be true of the season four premiere’s number.
At 8PM, ABC offered its relocated “Grey’s Anatomy” (7.0). The network then followed “Scandal” with its monster 10PM launch “How to Get Away with Murder” (9.7).
Adults 18-49 and total viewership numbers will be revealed by noon.
