Outlander season 4 episode 3 ratings level off in live numbers
Related Outlander video – If you missed our take on this past episode of the series, we suggest that you watch the new video below! If you like this, be sure to subscribe to CarterMatt on YouTube for some other updates and also take a look at our full Outlander playlist.
Are the numbers technically still on the decline? Yes, but the decline here is the smallest one that we’ve had a chance to see to date. Episode 3 generated overall just over 860,000 live viewers, a drop of around only 1% from the 870,000 who ended up watching the second episode of the season. This is a sign that the show is probably near the end of its time shedding live viewers, which we think is noteworthy from a casual-viewing perspective.
As we’ve said time and time again, the lower live ratings for season 4 aren’t necessarily a reason for major concern, given that there are so many other ways in which viewers can watch — whether it be via the app, On Demand, via their DVR, or on a separate streaming service altogether. These ratings are only for America and we know that this series is a major success internationally. The only disappointment that comes out of seeing the live numbers is that they suggest that there is a movement away from traditional TV, and maybe less of the casual audience who likes watching TV on the big screen live as opposed to on their DVR or their phone after the fact.
What actually matters more to Starz than viewership are subscriptions, and this is where Outlander more than likely remains the biggest winner. There could be hundreds of thousands of people, at least, who sign up for the network during the months that the show is on the air. If these people subscribe for three or four months, that’s a substantial amount of profit. They need shows that drive subscriptions and there are few that do it better than this one.
(Of course, we’d love to bring to you full, multiplatform viewing numbers that include app / On-Demand views and the like; it’s really up to Starz to determine if they want to release those.)
The question we still wonder…
Is it best for Starz at midnight? From a convenience standpoint we’d argue “sure,” but we still personally feel like there’s nothing better than having much of your audience watching live at once, even if they’re watching on the app or something else that doesn’t contribute to overall viewing. There’s something about that community-viewing experience that we personally think is special, but that’s just our opinion. It’s not something that Starz can really move to now; after giving viewers access to something early at midnight, you can’t all of a sudden take it away for the sake of some ratings theory that we’ve adopted.
Related News – Be sure to preview what is coming on Sunday’s Outlander episode!
What do you think about these Outlander season 4 episode 3 live+same-day ratings, and do you think the show starting to level off is a good thing? Share in the comments below. (Photo: Starz.)