ABC's Titanic Needs Ratings Lifeboat
by James Hibberd
April 16, 2012


ABC’s new Titanic miniseries concluded Sunday night and– what, you didn’t even know it was on?

It was! The four-hour telecast from "Downton Abbey" creator Julian Fellowes launched Saturday night to a rating that about tied rivals airing crime drama repeats.





Titanic had 4.1 million viewers and a 0.8 rating on Saturday, and slightly more (4.2 million, 0.9) for its final hour on Sunday.

Reviews were pretty soft, with some criticizing the show for over-stuffing with too many characters and soft-peddling the tragedy (somewhere, James Cameron is smirking, “See? Not as easy as it looks, is it?”).

The Titanic sinking gave a weak lead-in for "GCB" (4.5 million, 1.5), which fell 21 percent to a low.

http://insidetv.ew.com/2012/04/16/titanic-ratings/

My mom was probably the only person who watched it!! :eek: :lol:

It probably would have done better on PBS, split into two Sunday night airings. I'm not sure what ABC was thinking picking up the U.S. rights to the Titanic miniseries, other than that they might be able to capitalize on the popularity of Downton Abbey and the mania surrounding the 100th anniversary of the Titanic disaster.

Wrong demographics for your network, ABC. I guarantee you that most of Masterpiece Classic's audience doesn't watch your network very often.

It didn't even air here the first night because we were under a tornado warning (and I assume that was the same for much of the midwest.) I didn't bother to watch the second night after missing the first part.

I watched it and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was much more of a well-crafted character piece than an effects-driven disaster epic with a sappy Romeo & Juliet transplant like James Cameron's film. I will say it was really out of place on ABC. Fully agree this would be much better suited for the PBS audience - it reeked of British drama that mainstream American audience will typically run screaming from. Still, it's a little strange that even with the marquee value of the word "Titanic" viewership was so low.

Still, it's a little strange that even with the marquee value of the word "Titanic" viewership was so low.
ABC had no idea how to promote it. I don't recall seeing any advertisements for the miniseries (the only reason I knew it was even on is because I read the trades).

Of course, it also didn't help that ABC scheduled the first 3/4 of the show on network television's least valued night.

^ :yeahthat Still, I imagine it might have a strong following once it reaches DVD.

ABC had no idea how to promote it. I don't recall seeing any advertisements for the miniseries (the only reason I knew it was even on is because I read the trades).

Of course, it also didn't help that ABC scheduled the first 3/4 of the show on network television's least valued night.

Agreed. This just seems like a good old fashioned network foul up. Poor network decisions have sunk bigger vessels than the Titanic and they are sure to do it again.

I read on another Forum that this show also had an INSANE amount of Commercials in it. I also read the commercial breaks hit SUDDENLY, without the usual "fade" that occurs at the beginning and end of each break (This is most likely an attempt to get part of the commercials at the beginning and end of each break by those who use DVRs and other Recording Devices - The Commercial Slots at the beginning and end of each break command the highest prices, since those ads will be partially viewed, while the ones in the middle are more likely to be fast-forwarded). This Show will be available on DVD in a couple of weeks, which means viewers will be able to watch this show WITHOUT the Commercials! :lol:

People are probably tired of the whole Titanic story.

I wanted to see it and tape to dvd to have. I was not going to start watching it til after all 4 parts were on the dvr but by accident i deleted it from the dvr so i never got to even watch it.

Im not tired of watching reading or hearing about titanic. have every special and all the movies there are on it,cept for sos titanic from 79,never even seen it. i think a lot of people being sick of different movies is theres basicllly the same cept for dor different charcaters to fill in where needed to make it more interesting for people to wanna see another movie. i mean to me all the movies are the same cept subplots are different that are built around the sinking of the ship and who gets off and who goes down with the ship also a romance tossed in. theres just no other way to tell it different with out adding subplots.

in my opinion the movies have run their course.although if there was another made i would most likely see it

Sam's Club has copies for sale for about $17.00. UNCUT and WITHOUT COMMERCIALS. I might pick up myself a copy after I return from my Vacation.