Below are the ABC TV show ratings averages as of the end of week 21 of the 2012-13 season (Sunday, February 17, 2013). Ratings are typically the best way to tell if a show will be cancelled or renewed.
Week-to-week gains: Scandal, The Bachelor, America’s Funniest Home Videos, and 20/20.
Week-to-week losses: Modern Family, Grey’s Anatomy, Once Upon A Time, The Middle, Revenge, Suburgatory, Nashville, The Neighbors, Castle, Last Man Standing, Malibu Country, Shark Tank, and The Taste.
New: Zero Hour.
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| ABC Scripted TV shows |
18-49 demo rating (actual) |
Viewers in millions |
Ratings pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Family | 4.5 (4.53) | 11.69 | season 4 ratings |
| Grey’s Anatomy | 3.2 (3.20) | 9.26 | season 9 ratings |
| Once Upon a Time | 3.0 (3.02) | 9.07 | season 2 ratings |
| The Middle | 2.4 (2.44) | 8.35 | season 4 ratings |
| Suburgatory | 2.4 (2.38) | 6.46 | season 2 ratings |
| Revenge | 2.4 (2.36) | 7.41 | season 2 ratings |
| Scandal | 2.3 (2.33) | 7.03 | season 2 ratings |
| Nashville | 2.0 (1.98) | 6.20 | season 1 ratings |
| The Neighbors | 2.0 (1.96) | 6.44 | season 1 ratings |
| Castle | 2.0 (1.96) | 9.76 | season 4 ratings |
| 666 Park Avenue (cancelled) | 1.5 (1.51) | 4.66 | season 1 ratings |
| Last Man Standing | 1.5 (1.50) | 6.96 | season 2 ratings |
| Malibu Country | 1.4 (1.44) | 6.48 | season 1 ratings |
| Zero Hour | 1.4 (1.40) | 6.38 | season 1 ratings |
| Last Resort (cancelled) | 1.4 (1.38) | 6.26 | season 1 ratings |
| Private Practice (last season) | 1.3 (1.33) | 4.64 | season 6 ratings |
| Happy Endings | 1.3 (1.27) | 3.49 | season 3 ratings |
| Don’t Trust the B in Apt. 23 (cancelled) | 1.1 (1.10) | 2.85 | season 2 ratings |
| ABC non-scripted TV shows |
18-49 demo rating (actual) |
Viewers in millions |
Ratings pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Bachelor | 2.5 (2.51) | 7.73 | cycle 17 ratings |
| Dancing with the Stars (fall) | 2.3 (2.29) | 13.87 | cycle 15 ratings |
| Dancing with the Stars (fall, results) | 2.2 (2.16) | 12.92 | cycle 15 ratings |
| Shark Tank | 1.9 (1.86) | 6.59 | season 4 ratings |
| The Taste | 1.8 (1.75) | 5.13 | season 1 ratings |
| Primetime | 1.5 (1.50) | 4.72 | season 24 ratings |
| America’s Funniest Home Videos | 1.5 (1.49) | 6.49 | season 23 ratings |
| 20/20 | 1.4 (1.44) | 5.23 | season 35 ratings |
These charts incorporate the daily final ABC show ratings (reported by Nielsen) and are sorted by the 18-49 demographic. Network advertisers typically prize those viewers most and so will pay more to reach them. There’s lots of information that the networks take into consideration when cancelling or renewing a TV series but the ratings are the biggest factor. The higher the ratings, the better chance that the show will be renewed. And yes, they take it into account when a show airs on a Friday or Saturday night.
What do you think? Are you surprised by any of the averages? Which show(s) do you feel should be doing better or worse, based on their quality? Comment below.
WHERE IS SCANDAL? I have been seeing repeats; I want to see the real episodes of new series. When will it commence again? We are waiting!!!!!! We need to know so that we can all write in and let you all know at ABC that we are THRILLED with the show SCANDAL!!! The characters are wonderful and I love the pace of the episodes. I am always waiting for something different, and you always seem to make that happen! Now make it happen, so that we can get back on schedule with SCANDAL, PLEASE!!!!!!