Update 2: Monday’s lowest-rated scripted offering, ABC’s new “Forever” nonetheless performed better than the fast national data suggested.
The episode, which aired out of “Dancing with the Stars” (2.2 adults 18-49 rating, 12.76 million viewers), drew a 1.7 adults 18-49 rating with 8.59 million viewers.
It lost to fellow NBC’s rival 10PM series “The Blacklist” and CBS’ 10PM offering “Under the Dome” in adults 18-49 but defeated the latter in total viewership.
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Update: The series premiere of ABC’s “Forever” drew a 1.5 adults 18-49 rating with 8.3 million viewers Monday. It ranked third in its slot (behind NBC’s “The Blacklist” and CBS’ “Under the Dome”) in adults 18-49 and second in total viewers (behind “The Blacklist”).
Boosted by “Dancing with the Stars,” which drew a 2.0 adults 18-49 rating from 8-10PM and a 2.2 in adjacent 9:30-10PM half hour, “Forever” endured the expected audience bleed from start-to-finish. It kicked off its evening with a 1.7 and 8.87 million viewers before slipping to a 1.4 with 7.65 million in the latter half hour.
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While adults 18-49 data is required before a full assessment can be offered, overnight metered market data does not inspire significant optimism regarding the launch of “Forever.”
Far from a disaster in the vein of last fall’s “Lucky 7,” the new ABC drama nonetheless failed to explode. It delivered a 5.2 overnight household rating Monday night.
Indicative of a respectably sized audience, the number is well below the 7.4 posted by the “Castle” opener last fall. And insofar as “Forever,” like “Castle” and its “Dancing with the Stars” lead-in, is expected to skew in the direction of older viewers, it does not foretell a strong performance in adults 18-49.
“Forever” faced Monday Night Football, the season premiere of NBC’s “The Blacklist” (7.8) and the season finale of CBS’ “Under the Dome” in the 10PM slot Monday.
Its “DWTS” lead-in delivered a 7.9 overnight rating, which was down notably from the 9.4 posted last year.
Note: The ratings posted early Tuesday morning are household numbers derived from metered market data. A follow-up report containing Fast National data for the adults 18-49 demographic and total viewership will be issued by noon ET.
