Do the ratings for the Vikings TV show matter to the folks over at History? The series saw another big drop in the ratings last year — down 28% in the demo and 44% in viewers — but the cable channel renewed it for a supersized fourth season anyway. Will the numbers keep falling? Cancelled or renewed for a fifth season? Stay tuned.
Vikings takes place in the brutal and mysterious world of Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel), a Viking warrior and farmer who yearns to explore (and raid) the distant shores across the ocean. The rest of the large cast includes Katheryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Gustaf Skarsgård, Alyssa Sutherland, Linus Roache, Alexander Ludwig, Ben Robson, Moe Dunford, Lothaire Bluteau, Jasper Paakkonen, Kevin Durand, Jennie Jacques, Peter Franzen, Morgane Polanski, Amy Bailey, Dianne Doan, and John Kavanagh.
The ratings are typically the best indication of a show’s chances of staying on the air. The higher the ratings, the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available.
3/17 update: History has renewed Vikings for a fifth season. Details here.
Note: If you’re not seeing the updated chart, please try reloading the page or view it here.
For comparisons: The third season of Vikings averaged a 0.81 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 2.45 million viewers.
Cable ratings are typically released within a day or so of the show’s airing, except for in the case of weekends and holidays.
What do you think? Do you like the Vikings TV show? Do you think that it should be cancelled or renewed for a fifth season?
9/12 update: Vikings has been renewed for season six. Season five premieres on History in November. Details here.
Stopped watching now Ragnar is dead. Don’t care anymore – he was the reason I kept watching.
Great show,lots of action I hope they keep it going,to bad for Ragnar but the show should go on
I actually really enjoy Vikings, please keep it on. Characters and script is first rate. Thank you History Channel.!! Loyal watcher…..
I’m finished watching. Have followed from day one but, to me, the characters I liked are now gone. Why not end it before it gets really bad. Ragnar was the show.
While they might have killed off Ragnar, he was away for 10 years between season 3 and 4. Hopefully, the producers will grasp that opportunity.
Are these ratings also taking into account the show being released for free on the History channels website? I do not watch cable myself and I watched every episode directly from their site. Considering how many people prefer to watch things online (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon video etc.) I imagine there may be a large group going straight to History’s website itself.
Since they just killed off the main character and the reason most of us are watching in the first place I hope the show bombs and is taken off the air. What a stupid decision that was. So much was left undone and unanswered.
You do realize that Ragnar did actually die in the manner depicted in the episode and that his sons were the conquerors of most of England and Ireland.
Yes but who cares. This show is in no way accurate according to the Old Norse tales. Nothing is happening according to tradition. You must not know much about Viking history.
Pete, just because this is HOW he died doesn’t make much else of it any accurate and it doesn’t mean the show should tell the story afterwards. The bickering of the sons of Ragnar and lack of action has viewer bored out of their mind, it’s the same arguments and challenging of power amongst brothers and it’s just poor writing. The show would have been great ending when he died and Odin telling his sons and then pan up to the sky to see Ragnar and Athelstan passing onto their respective afterlives (or Heaven if Ragnar converted to Christianity).
I think by their killing off the main character we have the answer to a S5 renewal. And that is fine. Season Four’s writing is so uninspired compared to the truly great earlier seasons that only hard core viewers with Viking heritage will hang around. It deserves to go away now.
They are following the correct timeline and events according to history. You cannot change that. Everything is perfectly timed and narrated.
I’ve enjoyed this show immensely over all seasons. Maybe I’m easily amused? It’s still pulling a solid 2 million viewers per episode, which is a solid base of customers to air ads to. That’s what keeps a show alive, money.
Please keep it going! It’s truly an amazing show. For me there is never a dull moment while watching, and Vikings is what I look forward to the most on TV every year. Though Ragnar’s death was hard and he was the central character to the show it shouldn’t end anytime soon. It’s the most entertaining historical drama and I am really interested to see the son’s rise to the fame of their father. I would be satisfied if the show continued and ended with a Season 5 and 6 about Ragnar’s sons. The more seasons the better! lol.
Cancel it. They just killed off the reason most people watch it.
Well now that Ragnar is dead who cares. I predict a large drop in viewers.He was the only reason I watched.
Vikings is one of the great shows, and yet seems unloved by critics. I am mystified.
This show better not cancel nor kill off Ragnar, this is a great show, full of excitement with bad ass charisma….. great drama, nothin else can compare to this show…… if you don’t watch this show, then start doing so!!!! Love it!!!
I do have to say, season four B, is becoming a huge disappointment for fans, even though this is a show, part of its succession is giving fans what they want, and we all want Ragnar and lagertha back together, along with many victories…. we love our originals, even though Ivar is someone I can’t get enough of…. I just hope somehow, Vikings fans will not be disappointed after this season, and it’s a show that deserves many many seasons….. I’m sick of reality tv, this is more my style…. so uplifting and influential
Love the show. Keep it going
I have purchased the DVDs and watch them a lot. No commercials! Love it, can’t beat it! Keep the seasons coming!!
“Vikings” is an excellent show, at par with “Game of Thrones”. I would be very disappointed if it gets cancelled. These stats are not reflecting the true base of fans.