Last May, Revenge was on the bubble and could have been cancelled. The ratings had fallen quite a bit over the course of the season and even hit a series low in May. ABC gambled and renewed it but was that the right decision?
It seems so. Revenge has been doing relatively well this season. It returned strong, to a 3.2 rating with 9.74 million viewers — the show’s best showing since its series premiere a year earlier. The numbers have come down since then but are still an improvement over Spring 2012. It’s currently the fourth-highest rated scripted series on the network.
Looking at the list below, it’s very doubtful that ABC will make a similar gamble with 666 Park Avenue or Last Resort.
What do you think? Was ABC wise to renew Revenge or did they just get lucky that its ratings have improved? Comment below.
Here are the season averages as of Thursday, November 8, 2012:
| ABC Scripted TV shows |
18-49 demo rating (actual) |
Viewers in millions |
Ratings pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Family | 4.8 (4.83) | 12.38 | season 4 ratings |
| Grey’s Anatomy | 3.6 (3.58) | 10.06 | season 9 ratings |
| Once Upon a Time | 3.4 (3.42) | 10.09 | season 2 ratings |
| Revenge | 2.8 (2.77) | 8.54 | season 2 ratings |
| Suburgatory | 2.7 (2.70) | 7.20 | season 2 ratings |
| The Middle | 2.6 (2.60) | 8.60 | season 4 ratings |
| Malibu Country | 2.3 (2.30) | 9.13 | season 1 ratings |
| The Neighbors | 2.1 (2.14) | 6.87 | season 1 ratings |
| Nashville | 2.1 (2.12) | 6.80 | season 1 ratings |
| Castle | 2.1 (2.05) | 10.54 | season 4 ratings |
| Last Man Standing | 2.0 (2.00) | 8.07 | season 2 ratings |
| Scandal | 2.0 (1.98) | 6.13 | season 2 ratings |
| Last Resort | 1.7 (1.68) | 7.29 | season 1 ratings |
| 666 Park Avenue | 1.7 (1.65) | 5.02 | season 1 ratings |
| Private Practice (last season) | 1.6 (1.63) | 5.76 | season 6 ratings |
| Happy Endings | 1.6 (1.60) | 4.94 | season 3 ratings |
| Don’t Trust the B in Apt. 23 | 1.5 (1.45) | 3.73 | season 2 ratings |
| ABC non-scripted TV shows |
18-49 demo rating (actual) |
Viewers in millions |
Ratings pages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dancing with the Stars | 2.2 (2.24) | 13.48 | cycle 15 ratings |
| Dancing with the Stars (results) | 2.1 (2.08) | 12.41 | cycle 15 ratings |
| Shark Tank | 1.8 (1.83) | 6.55 | season 4 ratings |
| Primetime | 1.5 (1.50) | 4.72 | season 24 ratings |
| America’s Funniest Home Videos | 1.4 (1.44) | 6.11 | season 23 ratings |
| 20/20 | 1.4 (1.43) | 5.30 | 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.
For the status of your favorite ABC shows, check out this page.
Want more posts like this? Here are the other networks: CBS | The CW | FOX | NBC
I do not watch TV much – but this show is the best one going! I can’t wait for the next episode week after week. I am looking forward to the next season’s episodes.
The bottom line no matter what shows are on, ratings fall continually because of mid season breaks. You want your shows to succeed. Stop mid season breaks because people will move on to other networks. You may also want to repeat episodes during the long break between the season finales and the new season so those who miss episodes can catch up. Remember the days when we had that chance. Well because of BS with networks focusing on money and not content. That’s the reason why those shows fail. Also it might be an idea to focus on original series… Read more »
Excellent Show – – Well Cast – –
Interesting Plot Lines !!!
Wish it did not Conflict with “The Good Wife”
However, I watch “Revenge”
ABC-7 has almost all the best shows on Television !!!
I LOVE Emily(Amanda) I love all the twist
And turns. I pray nothing terrible happens to
Nolan.
My sister and I renlly love this show, pls pls
Don’t ever cancel this show. IT IS WONDERFUL