The broadcast networks (and reality TV in general) might have the first bona fide summer hit. After weeks of solid to middling unscripted launches, ABC’s Celebrity Family Feud got off to an exceptionally strong start on Sunday night.
The hour-long game show, hosted by Steve Harvey, averaged a 2.4 rating among adults 18-49 and 8.5 million viewers. ABC’s other reality launch of the night, the revival of long-dead Battle Bots, followed with a strong 1.9 rating in the key demo and 5.4 million viewers.
Game shows are a big part of the Big Four’s summer plans, with Fox and ABC premiering several each, but Celebrity Family Feud marks the first to truly break through. Both launches follow an exceptional two-week promotional platform from ABC’s coverage of the NBA Finals.
U.S. Open Golf was up significantly from last year’s preliminary scores. Not facing the NBA Finals, like the PGA tournament did in 2014, early numbers have it up 54 percent to an average 1.7 rating among adults 18-49 on Fox.
NBC was the only other network with originals, with the finale of A.D. logging a flat 0.7 rating in the demo and American Odyssey averaging a steady 0.4 with adults 18-49.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
