Last night, The Secret Circle didn’t conjure up much magic in the ratings. The show had just an okay premiere with a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 2.99 million viewers (based on the fast affiliate ratings).
Considering that this new TV series was paired with The Vampire Diaries (The CW’s most successful series) and is based on books from the same author, network execs were surely hoping for better. Vampire Diaries was also down by more than 12% compared to last year’s season premiere, registering a 1.4 demo rating versus 2010′s 1.6 rating.
While The Secret Circle’s debut is positive when compared to other CW shows that have already started airing, it’s looking like The CW is down overall. This makes early predictions all the trickier. We’ll have a better idea about how secure Secret Circle is once it’s been airing for a couple weeks and once the other scripted TV series have either returned or debuted.
Next week’s performance of Secret Circle will be key, when it’s competing with tougher original programming on the other networks.
Here’s the network’s spin on the numbers which is, not surprisingly, very positive:
“The Secret Circle” Matches The CW’s All-Time High in the Time Period in W18-34
Witches and vamps make a magical combination Thursday night on The CW…
The series premiere of THE SECRET CIRCLE averaged a 1.9/5 in its target demo of W18-34, matching the network’s all time high in the Thursday 9-10pm time period. THE SECRET CIRCLE averaged a 2.0/7 in female teens, the best in that demo since 3/15/07 in the time period.
THE SECRET CIRCLE was up 6% in W18-34 in from the series premiere of NIKITA in its time period last year, and even in A18-34 (1.3/4) and in W18-49 (1.7/4).
Perfectly paired with The CW’s hit THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, THE SECRET CIRCLE retained 100% of its lead-in with total viewers (3.0M), 93% in A18-49 (1.3/3), 94% in W18-49 (1.7/4), 86% in W18-34 (1.9/5) and built by 11% in female teens (2.0/7)
The third season premiere of THE VAMPIRE DIARIES was #1 in W18-34 in its time period (2.2/7) and #2 in A18-34 (1.6/5). It built on the audience from its season finale in total viewers (3M), A18-34 (2.2/7) and W18-34 (2.2/7) and matched it in A18-49 (1.4/4).
What do you think? Did you watch Secret Circle? Do you think it deserves to keep airing or should be cancelled instead?
Image courtesy The CW.
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
do not cancel the secret circle
Do NOT CANCEL LET THE SHOW DEVELOP GOD! YOU WILL MAKE CRY IF YOU CANCEL PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE THIS SHOW IS MY NUMBER ONE FAV!!!! DO NOT CANCEL! YOU WILL REGRET !!!!!
I think that this is another example of a show that could really find its groove over at SyFi. I enjoyed the show, but agree that it seemed to be aiming at a lower audience than it should have. SiFy has done wonders with Merlin, and Being Human, and has had a bumper year with its original programing (Warehouse 13, Alphas, and Haven, etc) Maybe if the show could head over there, they could tweek it so that people will want to watch more. Make it speak to people as if they have brains that work inside their heads, and not like they are all watching from their hospital beds after suffering head injuries.
I saw it and it was just OK. Very slow, very obvious. Although it’s geared to the younger teen crowd (14-16) it was almost watchable. My suggestions – speed it up a bit, don’t spell everything out like you’re targeting idiots, and tone down the bad girl’s over-the-top acting.
Could be a good time filler if all that happens.
Any show that has Gale Harold in it being devious and sexy, I will watch!
I didn’t enjoy it; The Vampire Diaries is a bloody good time, but The Secret Circle? Droll. I’ll keep watching it for as long as I can, for Thomas Dekker (whose credibility as a high school student is starting to wear thin), but I won’t be the least bit upset if they cancel it.
in my opinion the new series of secert circle was quite good it is well written i think as time goes i hope they stick with this series it has potential in they same time slot as the vampire diaries on thursday it’s a great follow up for they nite.also i want the cw to keep airing this show til at least they spring and hopeful renew this show for another season or neither give it at least 18-22 episodes pick up of the season.
Thursday is just a bad day to have it on! It conflicts with too many other shows – especially starting next week! I will have to watch the re-airing of it tonight!
The pilot episode seemed to move too slowly so we’ll have to see if it gets interesting in later episodes.