The statistic will not hold once DVR viewership is taken into account, but Wednesday’s “American Horror Story” set a series low in live+same-day viewership.
It tied a (rounded) low in adults 18-49.
Per Nielsen’s Live+Same-Day cable data, Wednesday’s “AHS: Hotel” broadcast drew a 0.94 adults 18-49 rating and reached 1.846 million total viewers. The numbers trail the 1.07 rating and 2.142 million viewership mark posted by the previous week’s broadcast.
This week’s live+same-day viewership tally is the lowest ever recorded by an “AHS” episode — and only the series’ second sub-2 million viewership mark.
The other, which previously represented the series’ low water mark, was posted by the November 21, 2012. Airing on the traditionally low-rated Thanksgiving Eve, that night’s “Asylum” episode drew 1.893 million total viewers.
It posted a 0.9 adults 18-49 rating.
Because “Hotel” episodes have been receiving considerably greater boosts from DVR viewership, this week’s episode will ultimately reach a larger audience than that 11/21/2012 episode — and many episodes from previous seasons.
The season’s live+same-day decline is, however, impossible to ignore. Since the premiere, only one “Hotel” episode has avoided week-to-week L+SD losses in adults 18-49 and total viewership.
Of course, those live+same-day numbers remain strong by cable standards. And when the huge DVR lifts and ample buzz are taken into account, “American Horror Story” remains a very valuable property for FX.
It has already been renewed for a sixth season.