The 2017-2018 TV seasons has come to a close, but that doesn’t mean that cable dramas stop airing new episodes. There was a lot to watch on the cable networks during the month.
Let’s take a look at how all of the cable dramas performed during the month of May.
CABLE DRAMAS
MONDAYS:
The Terror – The AMC period piece drama aired the final three episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 7 – 857,000 viewers
May 14 – 777,000 viewers
May 21 – 791,000 viewers (Finale)
This averages out to 808,000 viewers for May. The Terror has yet to be renewed by AMC for a second season.
X Company – The Ovation period piece drama returned for the start of its second season on May 7, airing four episodes during the month, but no ratings could be tracked down. New episodes aired on June 4 and June 11 with the next episode of X Company set to air on Ovation on Monday, June 18 at 10 PM.
TUESDAYS:
Shadowhunters – The Freeform fantasy series aired the final four episodes of the first half of its third season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 1 – 419,000 viewers
May 8 – 418,000 viewers
May 15 – 365,000 viewers (Mid-Season Finale – Hour 1)
May 15 – 311,000 viewers (Mid-Season Finale – Hour 2)
This averages out to 378,000 viewers for May. Shadowhunters will return for the remainder of its third and final season on Freeform sometime in 2019.
Legion – The FX drama aired five more episodes from its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 1 – 456,000 viewers
May 8 – 353,000 viewers
May 15 – 451,000 viewers
May 22 – 409,000 viewers
May 29 – 406,000 viewers
This averages out to 481,000 viewers for May. The final two episodes of the second season of Legion aired on June 5 and June 12. The ratings for those episodes will be provided in next month’s report. Legion has been renewed by FX for a third season.
In Contempt – The new BET drama aired five new episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 1 – 397,000 viewers
May 8 – 488,000 viewers
May 15 – 360,000 viewers
May 22 – 468,000 viewers
May 29 – 472,000 viewers
This averages out to 437,000 viewers in May. The final two episodes of the debut season aired on June 5 and June 12. The ratings for those episodes will be provided in the next month’s report. A second season of In Contempt has yet to be announced by BET.
Genius: Picasso – The National Geographic Channel anthology series aired five new episodes of its season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 1 – 257,000 viewers
May 8 – 350,000 viewers
May 15 – 330,000 viewers
May 22 – 325,000 viewers
May 29 – 257,000 viewers
This averages out to 304,000 viewers in May. New episodes aired on June 5 and June 12 with the season finale of Genius: Picasso set to air on the National Geographic Channel on Tuesday, June 19 at 10 PM. The third season of the anthology series has been ordered by the network.
The Haves and the Have Nots – The OWN drama returned for the remainder of its 5th season on May 1, airing five episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 1 – 1.6 million viewers (Mid-Season Return)
May 8 – 1.7 million viewers
May 15 – 1.7 million viewers
May 22 – 1.8 million viewers
May 29 – 1.9 million viewers
This averages out to 1.7 million viewers in May. New episodes aired on June 5 and June 12 with the next new episode of The Haves and the Have Nots set to air on OWN on Tuesday, June 19 at 9 PM.
100 Code – The cop drama debuted on WGN America on May 29, earning 215,000 viewers. New episodes aired on June 5 and June 12 with the next new episode of 100 Code set to air on WGN America on Tuesday, June 19 at 10 PM.
WEDNESDAYS:
The Expanse – The third season of Syfy drama aired five new episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 590,000 viewers
May 9 – 555,000 viewers
May 16 – 609,000 viewers
May 23 – 625,000 viewers
May 30 – 609,000 viewers
This averages out to 598,000 for May. New episodes aired on June 6 and June 13 with the next new episode of The Expanse set to air on Syfy on Wednesday, June 20 at 9 PM.
Krypton – The Syfy Superman-prequel (of sorts) aired the final four episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 630,000 viewers
May 9 – 528,000 viewers
May 16 – 606,000 viewers
May 23 – 557,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 580,000 viewers for May. Krypton has been renewed for a second season by Syfy.
The Americans – The long-running FX drama aired the final five episodes of its last season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 611,000 viewers
May 9 – 671,000 viewers
May 16 – 620,000 viewers
May 23 – 730,000 viewers
May 30 – 922,000 viewers (Series Finale)
This averages out to 711,000 viewers for May.
Famous in Love – The Freeform soap opera aired the final five episodes of its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 251,000 viewers
May 9 – 316,000 viewers
May 16 – 235,000 viewers
May 23 – 300,000 viewers
May 30 – 222,000 viewers (Finale)
This averages out to 265,000 viewers for May. Famous in Love has yet to be renewed for a third season by Freeform.
Colony – The USA Network drama returned for the start of its third season on May 2, airing five episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 2 – 579,000 viewers (Season Premiere)
May 9 – 443,000 viewers
May 16 – 698,000 viewers
May 23 – 698,000 viewers
May 30 – 691,000 viewers
This averages out to 622,000 viewers for May. New episodes aired on June 6 and June 13 with the next new episode of Colony set to air on the USA Network on Wednesday, June 20 at 10 PM.
Six – The History Channel military drama returned for its second season with a special night premiere on May 28 followed by a new episode of its regular night (Wednesday) May 30. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 28 – 927,000 viewers (Season Premiere)
May 30 – 789,000 viewers
This averages out to 858,000 viewers for May. New episodes aired on June 6 and June 13 with the next new episode of Six set to air on the History Channel on Wednesday, June 20 at 10 PM.
Queen Sugar – The two-night season three premiere of the OWN drama aired on May 29 and May 30, earing 1.5 million viewers and 1 million viewers. New episodes aired on June 6 and June 12 with the next new episode of Queen Sugar set to air on OWN on Wednesday, June 20 at 10 PM.
Ice – The Audience Network drama (available only via DirecTV) aired the final five episodes of its second season during the month, but no ratings could be tracked down. DirecTV has yet to renew Ice for a third season.
THURSDAYS:
Siren – The new mermaid-based Freeform drama aired the final four episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 3 – 513,000 viewers
May 10– 496,000 viewers
May 17 – 615,000 viewers
May 24 – 658,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 571,000 viewers for May. Siren has been renewed for a second season by Freeform.
Imposters – The Bravo drama aired the final six episodes of its second season during the month with the series finale airing on June 7. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 3 – 453,000 viewers
May 10 – 407,000 viewers
May 17 – 444,000 viewers
May 24 – 469,000 viewers
May 31 – 412,000 viewers
June 7 – 487,000 viewers (Series Finale)
This averages out to 445,000 viewers for May. Imposters was cancelled by Bravo.
FRIDAYS:
Rellik – The new Cinemax drama aired the final three episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 4 – 155,000 viewers
May 11 – 62,000 viewers
May 18 – 64,000 viewers (Finale)
This averages out to 94,000 viewers for May. Rellik has yet to be renewed for a second season by Cinemax.
SATURDAYS:
Patrick Melrose – The limited Showtime series debuted on May 12, airing three episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 12 – 219,000 viewers (DEBUT)
May 19 – 186,000 viewers
May 26 – 236,000 viewers
This averages out to 214,000 viewers for May. Patrick Melrose has yet to be given a second season renewal by Showtime.
SUNDAYS:
Fear the Walking Dead – The other AMC zombie-fest drama aired three new episodes of its fourth season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 2.5 million viewers
May 13 – 2.5 million viewers
May 20 – 2.3 million viewers
May 27 – No Episode Aired
This averages out to 2.4 million viewers for May. New episodes aired on June 3 and June 10, which was its mid-season finale. Ratings for those episodes will be provided in next month’s report. Fear the Walking Dead will return for the remainder of its 4th season on AMC on Sunday, August 12 at 9 PM.
Into the Badlands – The third season of the AMC action drama aired three new episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 968,000 viewers
May 13 – 1.2 million viewers
May 20 – 1.1 million viewers
This averages out to1.1 million viewers for May. New episodes aired on June 3 and June 10 with the next new episode of Into the Badlands set to air on AMC on Sunday, June 17 at 10 PM.
The Arrangement – The E! Entertainment Hollywood-based drama aired the final two episodes of its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 421,000 viewers
May 13 – 432,000 viewers (Series Finale)
This averages out to 427,000 viewers for May. The Arrangement was cancelled by E! Entertainment Network.
The Royals – The over-the-top fictional royal drama aired its final two episodes of its fourth season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 392,000 viewers
May 13 – 424,000 viewers
This averages out to 408,000 viewers for May. The Royals has yet to be given a fifth season renewal by E! Entertainment Network.
Billions – The Showtime drama aired four new episodes of its third season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 984,000 viewers
May 13 – 965,000 viewers
May 20 – 952,000 viewers
May 27 – 775,000 viewers
This averages out to 919,000 viewers for May. The final two episodes of the third season aired on June 3 and June 10. Ratings for those episodes will be provided in next month’s report. Billions has been renewed for a fourth season by Showtime and is expected to return sometime next year.
Trust – The debut season of the FX series based on legendary Getty family aired the final four episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 382,000 viewers
May 13 – 567,000 viewers
May 20 – 544,000 viewers
May 27 – 546,000 viewers (Finale)
This averages out to 510,000 viewers for May. Trust has yet to be renewed for a second season by FX.
Killing Eve – The new BBC America drama aired four new episodes of its debut season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 518,000 viewers
May 13 – 537,000 viewers
May 20 – 485,000 viewers
May 27 – 701,000 viewers (Season Finale)
This averages out to 560,000 viewers for May. Killing Eve was renewed for a second season by BBC America and will return sometime next year.
Westworld – The HBO hit series aired four more new episodes of its second season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 1.6 million viewers
May 13 – 1.6 million viewers
May 20 – 1.5 million viewers
May 27 – 1.1 million viewers
This averages out to 2 million viewers for May. New episodes aired on June 3 and June 10 with the next new episode of Westworld set to air on HBO on Sunday, June 17 at 9 PM.
Good Witch – The Hallmark Channel family favorite drama aired four new episodes of its fourth season during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 1.9 million viewers
May 13 – 1.8 million viewers
May 20 – 1.8 million viewers
May 27 – 2 million viewers
This averages out to 1.9 million viewers for May. New episodes aired on June 3 and June 10 with the next new episode of Good Witch set to air on Hallmark Channel set to air on Sunday, June 17 at 9 PM.
Sweetbitter – The Starz half-hour NYC-based drama debuted on May 6, airing four episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 38,000 viewers (DEBUT)
May 13 – 160,000 viewers
May 20 – 174,000 viewers
May 27 – 271,000 viewers
This averages out to 161,000 viewers for May. The final two episodes of the debut season of Sweetbitter aired on June 3 and June 10. Those ratings will be provided in next month’s report. Sweetbitter has yet to be renewed for a second season by Starz.
Vida – The other new half-hour Starz drama also debuted on May 6, airing four episodes during the month. The ratings for those episodes are as follows:
May 6 – 20,000 viewers (DEBUT)
May 13 – 181,000 viewers
May 20 – 133,000 viewers
May 27 – 148,000 viewers
This averages out to 121,000 viewers for May. The final two episodes of the debut season of Vida aired on June 3 and June 10. Those ratings will be provided in next month’s report. Vida has given a second season renewal by Starz.
MADE-FOR-TV MOVIES AND MINI-SERIES
There were only five made-for-TV movies that aired during May. Here are the ratings for each:
Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance (Lifetime) – 2.2 million viewers
Royally Ever After (Hallmark Channel) – 2 million viewers
Fahrenheit 451 (HBO) – 1.1 million viewers
Darrow & Darrow: In the Key of Murder (Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) – No ratings could be tracked down
Little Women (PBS) [3-Hour Two-Night Event] – No ratings could be tracked down
Ratings results for the cable dramas, mini-series and made-for-TV movies that have and will air in June that can be tracked down will be provided as soon as possible in July.
