The theoretical season finale lure failed to produce ratings improvements for HBO’s “Ballers” and “The Brink.” Both shows, in fact, sank to series lows in total viewership this week.
Airing out of the abysmally-rated “Show Me a Hero” (0.10 adults 18-49 rating, 397,000 viewers), “Ballers” posted a 0.71 adults 18-49 rating with 1.395 million total viewers. “The Brink” followed with a 0.36 and 872,000 total viewers.
All such numbers were down from those posted last week. The penultimate first season “Ballers” episode drew a 0.77 with 1.569 million total viewers; last week’s “The Brink” managed a 0.40 with 935,000.
For “Ballers,” a valid excuse may come in the form of AMC’s “Fear The Walking Dead.” Sunday’s edition of the Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson vehicle aired against the last half-hour of “Dead.”
“The Brink” did not directly face competition from AMC’s “Dead” spin-off, but it was potentially affected by the weakened “Ballers” lead-in support.
While the weak “Show Me a Hero” lead-in certainly did not help this week’s “Ballers,” it also aired before last week’s episode. Since last week’s “Ballers” still managed to reach 1.569 million viewers, its lead-in scenario, alone, cannot take the blame for this week’s drop.
Both “Ballers” and “The Brink” have been confirmed for second seasons.