Live + 3 Ratings: “People v. OJ Simpson” Draws 8.3M Premiere Viewers, 12M With Encores

People v OJ [FX]

In what represents the most-watched series premiere in network history, the first installment of FX’s “The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story” drew 8.3 million viewers on a live+3 basis.

Approximately 4.2 million fall into the adults 18-49 demographic, which amounts to an adults 18-49 rating of approximately 3.3.

Indicative of a huge DVR lift, the numbers best those drawn on a live+same-day basis (5.1 million viewers, 2.0 A18-49 rating) by 63% and 65%, respectively.

FX’s previous series premiere record for adults 18-49 audience was 3.0 million (“The Shield”). It was 4.8 million for total viewership (also “The Shield”).

— With the first two encores included, “American Crime Story” reached 12 million television viewers (and 6.1 million adults 18-49) on a live+3 basis.

Brian Cantor

Brian Cantor is the editor-in-chief for Headline Planet. He has been a leading reporter in the music, movie, television and sporting spaces since 2002. Brian's reporting has been cited by major websites like BuzzFeed, Billboard, the New Yorker and The Fader -- and shared by celebrities like Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Nicki Minaj. Contact Brian at brian.cantor[at]headlineplanet.com.