Update:<\/b> The metered market ratings did not overstate the year-to-year drop for ABC’s “How To Get Away With Murder.”<\/p>\n
According to final national data posted by Showbuzz, Thursday’s season three “HTGAWM” premiere drew a 1.4 adults 18-49 and 5.11 million total viewers. The numbers trail those of the season two premiere by 46% and 39%, respectively.<\/p>\n
The numbers are, however, roughly on par with the 1.4 adults 18-49 rating and 5.29 million viewer mark garnered by the second season finale.<\/p>\n
“HTGAWM” did not receive any help from context. In addition to competition from a strong football game, the episode faced competition from new timeslot rival “The Blacklist” (“HTGAWM” narrowly beat the show in adults 18-49, but it is hard to ignore the potential impact) and weakened lead-in support. Whereas last year’s “Scandal” season premiere drew a 3.3 rating and 10.25 million viewers in the 9PM hour, new series “Notorious” managed a mere 1.1 and 5.39 million viewers.<\/p>\n
ABC’s night opened with “Grey’s Anatomy” (2.5, 8.75 million this year vs. 2.8, 9.55 million last year). The veteran was Thursday’s highest-rated and most watched scripted program.
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\nThere was a lot working against this year’s “How To Get Away With Murder” premiere.<\/p>\n
It led out of the modestly rated new drama “Notorious” rather than “Scandal.” It faced competition from NBC’s relocated “The Blacklist.” It also aired following a season in which interest greatly cooled.<\/p>\n
Given those factors, ABC’s drama unsurprisingly took a bit year-to-year hit.<\/p>\n
According to metered market data posted by Programming Insider, Thursday’s season three “HTGAWM” opener drew a 3.9 overnight household rating. The number markedly trails the 6.5 delivered by the season two premiere.<\/p>\n
While the drop may not be as significant in adults 18-49 — and “HTGAWM” will likely post a respectable demo rating regardless — the news is definitely not great.<\/p>\n
“How To Get Away With Murder” does, however, generate ample DVR interest and social buzz. The two factors will at least partially compensate for modesty in the live+same-day numbers.<\/p>\n
— Earlier in the night, ABC offered “Grey’s Anatomy” (6.2 overnight household rating, down from 7.1 from last year’s premiere) and the aforementioned “Notorious” (4.1).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[1048],"tags":[233,76,2325,6426],"adace-sponsor":[],"yoast_head":"\n