UPDATED: Ratings: Major Crimes Rebounds on Wednesday; Wins Night as Most-Watched Cable Show

By M. Sharpe




MAJOR CRIMES (TNT)Three weeks into its winter season, the jury is in, and Major Crimes has found its footing on Wednesday nights.

With a perfect storm of February sweeps, a new time slot, and a move to Wednesday nights (the first time the show has not aired on Monday since its premiere), there was concern that Major Crimes might get lost among the greater TV landscape. Thankfully, the fans have followed Major Crimes to the new time-slot, and despite a rocky start, the ratings have continued to rise each week, and if the trend continues, will be on-part with the series performance last winter in its normal time slot in within the next two weeks as viewers continue to find the show in on its new night.

Last night’s episode brought in 2.5 million viewers, a 38% increase from the winter premiere, and almost 10% week to week from episode 2. Key demographics also rose more than 30% from the premiere, coming in this week at 0.3 million viewers 18.49. Last night’s episode also won the night as the most-watched scripted cable program.

In time-delayed ratings, Major Crimes saw even greater growth, as fans who may have missed it on the new day and time are finding it on DVR playback. The winter premiere almost doubled its viewership in Live + 3 day, growing 94% over its live + same day viewership.

UPDATED 4:45PM PST: In L+ 7, even larger gains were seen, with the winter premiere episode finishing with 4.2 million total viewers, up 120% over Live + SD. Even greater increases were seen in key demos, which added increased 150% over Live + SD to 0.5 million viewers 18-49.

Major Crimes continues to be extremely strong against the rest of the cable landscape at large, coming in as the second-most watched scripted cable series of the week in Live + Same Day, L+3 and L+ 7 day, behind only AMC ratings powerhouse The Walking Dead.


Major Crimes is all new this Wednesday at 9p/8c on TNT.