Ratings Progress Report: Is ‘Code Black’ in need of resuscitation?
Going into the start of the fall season, we very much got the sense that CBS was fairly happy with “Code Black” as a concept. While there have been a billion or so hospital series produced over the years, few have that sort of perfect storm of a great cast, intense moments, and gritty realism. This show really wants to throw you into the chaos and frantic nature of that world, and thanks to that, it’s clear that this show is not one meant for everyone.
With that being said, is it at least meant for enough people for it to stay on the air? That is a subject very much worth exploring in the latest edition of our Ratings Progress Report series, based on some of the information that is out there at present.
The good news – The show has managed to stay very steady ever since its second week. This past episode on November 4 tied for its best rating in the 18-49 demographic (1.2) since the premiere, and as a whole the show has retained 80% of its audience. When you consider that “Supergirl” lost more than 20% in just one week, this is impressive and shows that people who watch are enjoying what “Code Black” is bringing to them.
Also, you have to consider expectations here. While a 1.2 rating is not a tremendous success story, it is better than what CBS gets on Sunday nights at 10:00 p.m. Eastern and also is pretty even with “Blue Bloods” on Friday night.
The bad news – Unless this show suddenly starts to build buzz out of nowhere, a 1.2 is not the sort of starting-off point you want to build a fan base. Even if only a small percentage of people leave throughout the season, you’re still running the risk of barely having a 1.0 by May. This show is not a lock for renewal by any means; given that you tend to lose at 10% of people season to season with a network TV show, “Code Black” could be averaging a 0.9 in the demo at this point next year. Regardless of quality or fan support, the audience may not just be there. It’s a little different if you have an established show and have syndication or something else to rely on.
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