DVR ratings: Numbers help ‘Castle’ season 7, ‘Agent Carter,’ ‘Sleepy Hollow,’ ‘Amazing Race,’ more
Let’s face it: TV is not the same that it was a number of years ago. While live ratings are still extremely important, more and more people are setting their DVR now to record their favorite shows. This means that to a certain extent, these numbers have to be taken into consideration. They are not going to help a show that is a sinking ship, but at the same time, they may at least be some sort of an asset to a show that is sitting on the bubble.
For this article, we are looking at data for February 23 – March 1, compiled by TVbythenumbers. We’re not going to pay much attention to shows that are either already renewed, or virtually have no major shot of coming back. We’re also focusing here on the 18-49 demo ratings, since that is what major networks have been proven to look for when making decisions.
“Sleepy Hollow” – The season finale went from a 1.4 to a 2.4, which is an impressive growth of more than 70%. This has to be celebrated! It has consistently been one of the most-recorded dramas this season, which shows that there is loyalty still despite a disappointing season 2.
“Castle” – We want to assume it is returning, but ratings have been a tad lower and Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic each need new contracts. This show went from a 1.6 to a 2.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic, which proves further that there are many people still watching this show.
“Agent Carter” – The season 1 finale here went from a 1.3 to a 2.2. While impressive, we’re still not sure it will be enough to give the “limited series” another kick at the can. Marvel can be pricey, and if a show is this low in its first season, TV rules typically signal a decline for the second.
“The Amazing Race” – We’re mostly putting it on here because it is so rare for a reality show to be in the top 25 in terms of percentage increases. The premiere went from a 1.5 to a 2.4, while the second episode rose from a 1.1 to a 1.8. Not entirely sure that this will be enough to save it, but nice nonetheless to gain 60%+ for two separate airings in a week.
We’ll have more of these articles as we get closer to the May sweeps.