Ratings Roundup Week of September 23, 2018

Welcome to the 2018-2019 television season and another season of Ratings Roundup. Just a few of quick reminders on ratings:

1. Ratings always go down over time. On average you can expect all network ratings to be 3-5% lower than last season, that's just the nature of the beast.
2. It doesn't matter how a program does ratings-wise beyond the final overnights. Networks actually use an entirely different set of numbers to determine ratings viability for programs, the final overnights are the closest analog to those numbers.
3. It doesn't matter how a program does against other shows on other networks. Networks look at ratings within its own stable to determine what gets renewed and what gets the axe. If a program ranks high on the network grid, it's safe, if it ranks lower than the repeats and news magazine programs, it's in trouble. (Unless the program is in its third season. Third season programs are practically a lock for renewal as networks need the episode count for syndication deals.)

So, let's see how everyone fared for premiere week!

ABC wrapped up the last bits of its summer schedule and premiered two new shows last week, Single Parents and A Million Little Things, though neither were particularly strong in their first outings. Grey's Anatomy and Modern Family led the way for the network for scripted programs. Dancing with the Stars opened low, and even for a cheaper reality show, may be getting to the danger point.

CBS premiered three new programs last week, and all ended up with average, middle of the road numbers. FBI had a good opening behind perennial ratings winner NCIS. (To get the full effect of NCIS, look how far Bull dropped on its new night.) Magnum PI opened with okay numbers, time will tell if the show can hold onto its audience. CBS tends to renew a number of average ratings shows, so there's no reason to worry about Magnum and Co. quite yet. Murphy Brown returned to television with average numbers, if CBS was hoping for the huge returns ABC saw last season with Roseanne, they were a bit disappointed. The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon led the network per usual. CBS execs will be weeping into their morning coffee next season as there is nothing even close to Sheldon and Co. for ratings success on the horizon.

NBC also had two new shows premiere last week. Manifest opened strong, time will tell if it can hold those numbers. New Amsterdam opened well, but the Peacock has a lot of strong programs, it can't afford to slip very much. The Dick Wolf trifecta of Chicago Fire, Med, and PD are all on the same night now and all three shows were consistent.

FOX's two new shows are really one new show and an old program on a new network. Last Man Standing was cancelled by ABC, most likely because it was too expensive as it was a FOX production, but Tim Allen's series found a new home and opened strong for the network and should be an easy renewal. The Cool Kids was the new, new show and opened well. The network feasted on football, however, with both an overrun into prime time and FOX being the new home of Thursday Night Football. 9-1-1 and Empire both returned with high numbers for the network.

The CW is still wrapping up it's summer schedule and airing repeats. It seems they like to give the other networks a head start on fall season.

And that wraps up premiere week! What new shows are you watching this Fall and how did they do the first week of the season?