December is only a few days behind us and a new year is just upon us.
December TV was filled with a lot of repeats and holiday fare, but there were still plenty of cable dramas to watch as well as the pre-requisite holiday movies.
Let’s first take a look at how all of the cable dramas performed during the month of December.
CABLE DRAMAS
MONDAYS:
There were no cable dramas airing on Monday nights throughout December.
TUESDAYS:
Major Crimes – Six more new episodes of the sixth and final season of the TNT police drama aired during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 5 – 2.3 million viewers
December 12 – 1.7 million viewers
December 19 – 2.4 million viewers (100th Episode)
December 19 – 2.3 million viewers
December 26 – 2.7 million viewers
December 26 – 2.4 million viewers
This averages out to 2.3 million viewers for December. The penultimate episode of the final season of Major Crimes aired on January 2 and the series finale will air on TNT on Tuesday, January 9 at 9 PM.
The Long Road Home – The final 3 episodes of the 8-part event series aired on National Geographic during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 5 – 593,000 viewers
December 12 – 553,000 viewers
December 19 – 611,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 586,000 viewers for December.
WEDNESDAYS:
Mr. Robot – The USA Network drama aired the final two new episodes of its third season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 6 – 437,000 viewers
December 13 – 454,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 446,000 viewers for December. The USA Network has renewed Mr. Robot for a fourth season, but it is unclear as to whether the new season will air in 2018 or 2019.
Vikings – The History Channel period piece drama aired four new episodes of its fifth season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 6 – 2.3 million viewers
December 13 – 2 million viewers
December 20 – 2.1 million viewers
December 27 – 1.7 million viewers
This averages out to 2 million viewers for December. A new episode of Vikings aired on January 3 with the next episode set to air on the History Channel on Wednesday, January 10 at 9 PM.
Knightfall – The new History Channel drama debuted on December 6, airing four new episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 6 – 1.8 million viewers (DEBUT)
December 13 – 1.3 million viewers
December 20 – 1.5 million viewers
December 27 – 1.1 million viewers
This averages out to 1.4 million viewers for December. A new episode of Knightfall aired on January 3 with the next episode set to air on the History Channel on Wednesday, January 10 at 10 PM.
Happy – The live-animation Syfy series debuted on December 6, airing four new episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 6 – 1.1 million viewers (DEBUT)
December 13 – 607,000 viewers
December 20 – 619,000 viewers
December 27 – 638,000 viewers
This averages out to 741,000 viewers for December. A new episode of Happy is set to air on Syfy on Wednesday, January 10 at 10 PM.
The Librarians – The fan favorite TNT drama returned for the start of its fourth season on December 13, airing two back-to-back episodes; in fact, a total of six episodes aired during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 13 – 1.7 million viewers (Season Premiere)
December 13 – 1.4 million viewers
December 20 – 1.5 million viewers
December 20 – 1.4 million viewers
December 27 – 1.8 million viewers
December 27 – 1.5 million viewers
This averages out to 1.6 million viewers for December. A new episode of The Librarians aired on January 3 with the next new episode set to air on TNT on Wednesday, January 10 at 9 PM.
THURSDAYS:
Van Helsing – The Syfy thriller aired four more new episodes of its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 7 – 487,000 viewers
December 14 – 358,000 viewers
December 21 – 486,000 viewers
December 28 – 550,000 viewers
This averages out to 470,000 viewers for December. The season finale of Van Helsing is set to air tonight, January 4 on Syfy at 9 PM.
Ghost Wars – The new thriller debuted on Syfy starting on October 5, airing four episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 7 – 388,000 viewers
December 14 – 289,000 viewers
December 21 – 343,000 viewers
December 28 – 392,000 viewers
This averages out to 353,000 viewers for December. The season finale of Ghost Wars is set to air tonight, January 4 on Syfy at 9 PM.
Damnation – The 1930’s-based drama moved from Tuesday nights to Thursday nights starting on December 14, airing three episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 14 – 502,000 viewers
December 21 – 608,000 viewers
December 28 – 671,000 viewers
This averages out to 594,000 viewers for December. A new episode of Damnation is set to air tonight, January 4 on the USA Network at 10 PM.
FRIDAYS:
Z Nation – The Syfy zombiefest series aired the finale four episodes of its fourth season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 1 – 522,000 viewers
December 8 – 572,000 viewers
December 15 – 605,000 viewers
December 15 – 555,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 564,000 viewers for December. Z Nation was given a fifth season renewal by Syfy and is expected to return sometime in 2018.
Superstition – The new Syfy thriller aired only one new episode of its debut season on December 1, earning 252,000 viewers. The show was then moved to a new timeslot, but ratings could not be tracked down for any episodes that may have aired throughout the rest of December. Check your local listings for any other episodes of Superstition that may air in your area.
SATURDAYS:
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency – The BBC America drama aired the final three episodes of its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 2 – 259,000 viewers
December 9 – 280,000 viewers
December 16 – 250,000 viewers (Series Finale)
This averages out to 263,000 viewers for December. Dirk Gently was, unfortunately, cancelled by BBC America after two seasons.
SUNDAYS:
Outlander – The final two episodes of the third season of the period piece drama aired on Starz during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 3 – 1.5 million viewers
December 10 – 1.4 million viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 1.5 million viewers for December. Outlander was renewed for a fourth season by Starz, and is expected to return sometime in 2018.
Good Behavior – The TNT drama aired the final three episodes of its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 3 – 538,000 viewers
December 10 – 678,000 viewers
December 17 – 724,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 647,000 viewers for December. TNT has yet to renew Good Behavior for a third season.
The Walking Dead – The zombie series aired the final two episodes of the first half of its 8th season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
December 3 – 7.5 million viewers
December 10 – 7.9 million viewers (Mid-Season Finale)
This averages out to 7.7 million viewers for December. The Walking Dead will return with more new episodes on AMC starting of Sunday, February 25 at 9 PM.
Berlin Station – The spy drama on EPIX aired its season finale on December 3, but no ratings for that episode could be tracked down. Berlin Station has been renewed for a third season by EPIX, and will air sometime in 2018.
MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES AND MINI-SERIES
There were just a little over 25 made-for-TV movies – mostly holiday themed – that aired during December.
Here are the ratings that could be tracked down for most of those movies:
The Christmas Cottage (Hallmark Channel) – 4.6 million viewers
A Christmas Story Live (FOX) – 4.5 million viewers
Christmas Getaway (Hallmark Channel) – 4.4 million viewers
Christmas Next Door (Hallmark Channel) – 4.4 million viewers
Christmas Connection (Hallmark Channel) – 4 million viewers
Christmas in Evergreen (Hallmark Channel) – 4 million viewers
Christmas at Holly Lodge (Hallmark Channel) – 3.9 million viewers
Royal New Year’s Eve (Hallmark Channel) – 3.9 million viewers
Sharing Christmas (Hallmark Channel) – 3.7 million viewers
When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree (Hallmark Channel) – 3.6 million viewers
Rocky Mountain Christmas (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 2.2 million viewers
Romance at Reindeer Lodge (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 2.1 million viewers
Christmas in Angel Falls (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.8 million viewers
Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.7 million viewers
Magical Christmas Ornaments (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.4 million viewers
Snowed-Inn Christmas (Lifetime) – 1.4 million viewers
Christmas in Mississippi (Lifetime) – 1.3 million viewers
Psych: The Movie (USA Network) – 1.3 million viewers
Christmas Encore (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – 1.2 million viewers
Doctor Who Christmas Special (BBC America) – 1.1 million viewers
My Christmas Prince (Lifetime) – 1.1 million viewers
Four Christmases and a Wedding (Lifetime) – 951,000 viewers
12 Days of Giving (UP TV) – 407,000 viewers
Gunpowder [Mini-Series] (HBO) [3-nights] – 393,000 viewers (average)
Miss Me This Christmas (TV One) – 257,000 viewers
A Winter Wedding (UP TV) – 287,000 viewers
You Can’t Fight Christmas (TV One) – 247,000 viewers
No ratings could be tracked down for the following made-for-TV movies that aired during December:
A Royal Christmas Ball (ION)
Call the Midwife Holiday Special (PBS)
Christmas Cruise (ION)
Christmas Princess (UP TV)
Last Tango in Halifax (PBS)
Runaway Christmas Bride (ION)
The Spruces & the Pines (ION)
Ratings results for the cable dramas, mini-series and made-for-TV movies that have and will air in January that can be tracked down will be provided as soon as possible in February.
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