Modest Opening for The CW’s ‘Dynasty’

THE REBRANDING OF MEGYN KELLY RINGS FALSE ON NBC’s “TODAY”: Click here

What follows are the metered market (overnight) results in households by network and by half-hour for Wednesday, October 11, 2017:

Household Rating/Share
CBS: 4.6/ 8, Fox: 4.1/ 7, NBC: 4.0/ 7, ABC: 3.4/ 6, CW: 1.3/ 2

-Percent Change From the Year-Ago Opening Wednesday (9/21/16):
CW: +18, NBC: no change, CBS: – 4, Fox: -24, ABC: -28

-Ratings Breakdown:
CBS topped this third Wednesday of the new TV season in the household overnights. But, once again, Fox is the network to beat in adults 18-49 (and all the key demo groups) thanks to “Empire.”

“Empire” finished second in the overnights in the 8 p.m. hour with a 4.7 rating/8 share, which was six percent behind competing “Survivor” on CBS (#1: 5.0/ 8) and 23 percent below its year-ago telecast (6.1/10 on 10/12/16, when it aired Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET). By moving to the 8 p.m. anchor position, however, “Empire” has given a boost to sophomore “Star” (#4: 3.5/ 6 at 9 p.m.), which recently had its order this season extended from 13 to 18 episodes.

Particularly positive on CBS remains new drama “SEAL Team,” which won the 9 p.m. hour with a 4.9/ 8 (and beat competing “Law & Order: SVU” on NBC — #3: 4.1/ 7 — by 20 percent). “SEAL Team” was also on par with year-ago time period occupant “Criminal Minds.” My crystal ball tells me a full season episode order for “SEAL Team” is on its way. And, my experience in this business tells me there is nothing wrong with attracting an older audience (who, by the way, may now have the funds to spend on these sponsors).

Now at 10 p.m., veteran “Criminal Minds” tied NBC’s “Chicago PD” for first, each with a 3.8/ 7 in the household overnights. Comparably, “Criminal Minds” was on par with year-ago occupant “Code Black,” which will return in midseason. Third in the hour was ABC’s sophomore “Designated Survivor,” which at a 3.3/ 6 (#3) dropped by a considerable 35 percent on the year-ago evening.

In series premiere news, the reboot of “Dynasty” on The CW opened with a modest 0.9/ 1 in the overnights at 9 p.m., which slipped from the season premiere of sophomore “Riverdale” (#5: 1.6/ 3) by 44 percent and was only one-tenth of a rating point above failed year-ago occupant “Frequency” (0.8/ 1 on 10/12/16). “Riverdale,” however, opened 60 percent above its series premiere on Thursday last season.

Earlier in the evening on NBC was relocated “The Blacklist” at a third-place 3.9/ 7, which was on par with year ago occupant “Blindspot.” “Blindspot,” by the way, will open season three on Friday, Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. ET.

ABC, unfortunately, is seeing its Wednesday 8-10 p.m. ET comedy block erode care of “The Goldbergs” (#4: 3.8/ 6), “Speechless” (#4: 2.7/ 4), “Modern Family” (#2: 4.1/ 7) and relocated “American Housewife” (#4: 3.2/ 5). The biggest decline is courtesy of sophomore “Speechless,” which slipped by 36 percent from the 4.2/ 7 on the year-ago evening. Comparably, retention for “Speechless” out of “The Goldbergs” was only 71 percent.

What follows are the household overnight results for Wednesday, October 11 by half-hour:

8:00 p.m.
ABC – “The Goldbergs”: 3.8/ 6 (#3)
CBS – “Survivor”: 5.0/ 8 (#1)
NBC – “The Blacklist”: 4.0/ 7 (#3)
Fox – “Empire”: 4.5/ 8 (#2)
CW – “Riverdale” (season premiere): 1.6/ 3 (#5)

8:30 p.m.
ABC – “Speechless”: 2.7/ 4 (#4)
CBS – “Survivor”: 5.0/ 8 (#1)
NBC – “The Blacklist”: 3.9/ 6 (#3)
Fox – “Empire”: 4.8/ 8 (#2)
CW – “Riverdale” (season premiere): 1.5/ 2 (#5)

9:00 p.m.
ABC – “Modern Family”: 4.1/ 7 (#3)
CBS – “SEAL Team”: 4.9/ 8 (#1)
NBC – “Law & Order: SVU”: 4.0/ 6 (#3)
Fox – “Star”: 3.6/ 6 (#4)
CW – “Dynasty” (series premiere): 1.0/ 2 (#5)

9:30 p.m.
ABC – “American Housewife”: 3.2/ 5 (#4)
CBS – “SEAL Team”: 4.9/ 8 (#1)
NBC – “Law & Order: SVU”: 4.2/ 7 (#3)
Fox – “Star”: 3.4/ 6 (#4)
CW – “Dynasty” (series premiere): 0.9/ 1 (#5)

10:00 p.m.
ABC – “Designated Survivor”: 3.4/ 6 (#3)
CBS – “Criminal Minds”: 3.9/ 7 (#1t)
NBC – “Chicago PD”: 3.9/ 7 (#1t)

10:30 p.m.
ABC – “Designated Survivor”: 3.1/ 6 (#3)
CBS – “Criminal Minds”: 3.7/ 7 (#1t)
NBC – “Chicago PD”: 3.7/ 7 (#1t)

Source: Nielsen Media Research