Ratings: Once Returns Steady in Demo, But With Smallest Audience Ever 

 returned from its three-month hiatus and entered the Underworld on Sunday night with 4 million total viewers and a 1.3 rating, steady in the demo versus its fall finale (which marked a series low) but slipping 13 percent to its smallest audience ever.

was Sunday’s top-rated broadcast drama. TVLine readers gave the winter premiere an average grade of “B+.”

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made its regular time slot premiere — opposite both

‘s series finale — with 3.1 million viewers and a 0.8 rating, down sharply from its Thursday sneak peek while matching

s winter premiere (3.7 mil/1.1) ticked down to series lows on both counts.

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(7.2 mil/0.9) dipped 9 percent and a tenth to hit and match series lows and

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(5.7 mil/1.5) got a boffo bump from NASCAR overrun. In other prelim numbers,

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Want scoop on any of the above shows? Email insideline@tvline.com and your question may be answered via Matt’s Inside Line.

With Once and Quantico Low ratings is because the long breaks don’t work ( I forgot they were on for one thing )

Once is just not the same. Next season should be their last.

Couldn’t agree more. Are the execs at ABC lost their minds already?

It should have ended after s3. Season 4 and 5 are disaster. Next season should be definitely last and shorter.

I couldn’t agree more! I struggled with last season and the first half of this season. During this long break, I haven’t even missed the show. The first 2 seasons were the best.

As long as it’s not too expensive and winning the demo I don’t see it getting cancelled. The TV business is about making money 1st with quality a distant 2nd. You need look no further than cheap to make reality shows for proof of that.

Gave up on Once last year. I like The Family a lot. People just don’t want to invest in this kind of show. Plot not wrapped up every week, like most of CBS junk. What happened to Secrets and Lies. Shows on break from Dec. to Feb or Mar. is just tooo long.

With Quantico already renewed for a second season, ABC should move the series to Sundays @ 9 or maybe move to a new night.

It’s hard to believe that convoluted mess got renewed, but I guess everything can’t be cancelled.

Not surprised about Quantico. It has nothing to do with the long break. That winter break episode pissed a lot of people off. The promos promised some answers instead we just got more questions. Then the Ryan/Alex love story is a hot mess. They’re trying to pattern it after Meredith/Derek but it’s not working. For the winter break, Alex had NO reason to run off with Liam. She just found out from Ryan’s ex wife that Ryan loved her and talks about her constantly. Yet Alex took that to mean she should hump Liam? That makes no sense. Then the show comes back and we have more NATs!? We barely know the lead ones now! Then we have more questions. Did Caleb survive? Is he in a coma? What’s going on!?!?

Oh but I love The Family. I’m sick of all the flashbacks on these ABC shows but I’m loving the show. When that daughter threaten the daddy, I was hooked.

I’m actually not surprised, all the Regina scenes we got.. Hopefully next week the ratings will go up

I don’t agree. Regina-centric episodes are always the best ones.but Once became just nonsense crap after s3. I stopped watching after 5A. It’s just too much.

Bad night for ABC. Given The Family was going up against Walking Dead and Downton Abbey, its really no surprise they fell so far( and probably would have fallen regardless) FOX did what I thought they would do. Madam Secretary may not have demo numbers but their HH numbers are decent. Hope The Good Wife can go up before their finale

Yeah CBS is largely the network for old people, at least as dramas go.

I understand ratings are important to advertisers but, honestly, does anyone really believe these numbers accurately reflect the number of households and/or individuals who actually watch these TV shows? Even when DVR numbers are factored in they seem relatively small when compared to the overall population, and the amount of buzz theses shows (and so many others) generate in the press and on social media. It just seems like the ratings process is becoming more and more outdated.

Really really really enjoying THE FAMILY. Always a bummer when a great new show starts off weak. I have always questioned the success of launching a preview ep and then moving the rest to a different day. Seems to be more of a confusion then is needed.

Also, really hoping Last Man On Earth gers a 3rd season. Funniest show on TV.

They need to stop with these big pauses. I forgot most of plots and lost most of the interest.

Aside from showing that network TV has a lot of great competition from cable and pay channel providers, it also proves that super long “winter breaks” do not help the network shows.

ABC needs to rethink there design.. to keep with the times. Maybe Ms. Dungey will turn it around?

I don’t understand why some think these are bad ratings for “OUAT” when they are still the top rated broadcast drama. Times have changed and live ratings don’t mean that much at all once DVR, mobile, and online are added in. The fandom is huge and the early renewal is a good sign how the show is really doing.

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