Ratings Report: Wrapping Up The Season

Broadcast: Station 19 aired its season 3 finale at ABC on May 14, the episode had 5.908 million viewers, a 6.13 percent increase from the week before. The series has become the highest rated in total viewership at ABC from 2019 to 2020. As of May 19, 2020, both Black-ish and Mixed-ish are still in the air to be renewed or cancelled by the network. The series and its prequel aired their season finales on May 5. Black-ish had 2.525 million viewers tuned in, and Mixed-ish aired to 2.633 million viewers. Both series have seen slow decline in viewership over the past season, will they get the chance to relive the glory of the original series’ success in the upcoming seasons (if any)? 

CBS recently announced its 2020 fall schedule. The Neighborhood, Bob Hearts Abishola and All Rise have been renewed for a new season after the season finales early May. Magnum PI, also renewed, aired its two finale episodes on May 8, with an average of 6.479 million viewers. 

9-1-1 remains the highest rated scripted series on the FOX network, renewed for a fourth season, and aired season three finale to 7.285 million viewers. Among the conclusion of this season, 9-1-1 maintained an average rating in the 18-49 demographic of 1.38, and increased its average total viewership to 6.853 million, a 12.53 percent increase from season 2. 

Over at CW, Roswell, New Mexico is renewed for a new season, had an average of 661,000 viewers in the past two weeks. Dynasty, also renewed, airs its season three finale on May 8 to 373,000 viewers, a 15.48 percent increase from the week before. 

Many networks are strategizing and preparing for the future as the current TV season wraps up. All film and television productions have been put in a deep freeze due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as governments loosen restrictions and prepare for openings, some productions might begin again with a new set of rules. Last week, Iceland announced it would open to foreign film crew under strict testing and tracking measures, leading the race to resume film production globally. L.A. county also reportedly could reopen its economy as early as July 4. What will the reopening for the world of television look like? We have to wait and see. 

Cable: Freeform has recently announced that Grown-ish won’t be returning until 2021, having aired its midseason finale in March 2020. Starz’s Vida is in its final season, premiered in late April. Vida had an average of 84,000 viewers in the past two weeks. Killing Eve’s BBC America airing had an average of 379,500 viewers in the past two week, it is simulcast on AMC with an average of 433,000 viewers. HBO’s Insecure has been renewed for a fourth season, it had an average of 407,500 viewers in the past two weeks. 

International: TVSA has released its April ratings. At SABC1, Uzalo (11,407,540), Generations: The Legacy (9,544,765), Skeem Saam (8,844,068) reached their highest viewership ever. Muvhango had 5,215,075 viewers at SABC2. 

Over in Korea, the top prime-time dramas Free-to-air TV average Nielsen ratings in the past week are: Good Casting (SBS)-9.5%; The King: Eternal: Monarch (SBS)-7.3%; Soul Mechanic (KBS2)-4.4%; Find Me in Your Memory (MBC)-3.2%; Born Again (KBS2)-2.7%.

In Korean Cable TV, last week’s Nielsen ratings are: The World of the Married (JTBC)-22.7%; Hospital Playlist (tvN)-12.1%; When My Love Blooms (tvN)-4.1%; Rugal (OCN)-1.6%; Eccentric! Chef Moon (Channel A)-0.6%. 

Streaming: Netflix premiered The Eddy, a French-American miniseries set in Paris, on May 8, 2020. The first two episodes were directed by Damien Chazelle, who returns to create a TV series about a jazz musician after the critically acclaimed La La Land (2016). This time, the story is centered around Elliot (André Holland) struggling to protect his jazz club in Paris, and his relationship with music, the city, family and other artists. On Rotten Tomatoes, the audience gave the series a score of 84%. Viewers are seeing the series as something close to a jazz set, that requires them to slow down and enjoy the atmosphere, even though the storyline sometimes can be offbeat and stale.