Ratings: Delayed ‘X-Files’ Debut Serves Truth to 13.5 Million Viewers out There

Show didn’t air until NFC Championship postgame ended around 10:30 p.m. ET

THE X-FILES: L-R: Gillian Anderson, guest star Joel McHale and David Duchovny. The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY, marks the momentous return of the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Ed Araquel/FOX

“The X-Files” may not have aired on time, but when it finally did, the reboot’s premiere abducted 13.5 million total viewers.

With that and the NFC Championship game, Fox posted a massive 12.3 rating/33 share in the key 18-49 demographic and 34.8 million total viewers across primetime, per preliminary numbers. Of course, due to the nature of live sports and the time-zone differences, these fast national numbers for the network are particularly subject to change. For now at least, “X Files” posted a 5.1/16 and 13.5 million total viewers at 10:30 p.m.

CBS’ AFC Championship didn’t overrun into primetime, but it dominated during an earlier part of the day. (You can read about those ratings here.) CBS finished second overall between 7 p.m and 11 p.m. ET.

Behind Fox, CBS had a 1.2/3 and 7.4 million total viewers. At 7 p.m. ET, “60 Minutes” got a 2.0/5 and 10.1 million viewers. At 8, a second hour of the news magazine show received a 1.2/3 and 8.4 million viewers. A third hour at 9 posted a 0.7/2 and 5.2 million viewers. “Madam Secretary” at 10 put up a 0.8/2 and 5.9 million viewers.

Univision was third in ratings with a 1.0/3 and fourth in viewers with 2.6 million.

NBC was fourth in ratings with a 0.8/2 and third in viewers with 3 million. “Dateline NBC” at 7 had a 0.6/2 and 3.6 million viewers. At 8, a second hour got a 0.7/2 and 2.3 million viewers. A movie followed.

ABC was fifth in ratings with a 0.5/1 and in viewers with 2.4 million. Following a rerun, “Galavant” had a 0.5/1 and 2.1 million viewers. Repeats followed.

Telemundo was sixth in ratings with a 0.2/1 and in viewers with 637,000.

Part 2 of the “X-Files” premiere airs tonight at 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

Comments