Summer’s top shows among Millennials
AMC's 'Fear the Walking Dead' more than doubles competition
September 1, 2015

Millennials’ media habits are very different than older generations, but despite their devotion to online video and video games, they still watch a fair amount of traditional television.
This summer, they’ve been especially interested in zombies, teen moms and just about anything on Adult Swim.
That’s according to the latest live-plus-three-day DVR playback ratings among adults 18-34 from Nielsen. Since the demo does so much time-shifting, live-plus-same-day ratings aren’t the best way to judge what’s being watched.
AMC and Adult Swim were the top networks in primetime in the demo for the week ended Aug. 23, with “Fear the Walking Dead” posting the biggest rating, a 5.5.
That was nearly double the No. 2 show on TV in the demo, MTV’s “Teen Mom,” which posted a 2.3.
“Dead” did extremely well across all demos, but outside of that the ratings for Millennials look very different than older demos.
“Mom,” for instance, ranked 11th with 18-49s and 28th with 25-54s.
Adult Swim had seven shows in the top 25, mostly repeats of “Family Guy” and “American Dad.” But originals such as the recently renewed “Rick & Morty” and “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” also ranked.
What’s most notable about Millennials compared to older demos is how many of their top shows this summer air on cable.
CBS’s “Big Brother,” NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and ABC’s “Bachelor in Paradise” made the top 10, but beyond that the number of broadcast shows in the top 50 thinned out.
This again reflects the difference in Millennials’ media habits and upbringing. They grew up with cable TV, while older generations acquired it later in their lives.
Millennials don’t think of broadcast and cable as being any different. Older generations do.
|
Tags: broadcast, cable, millennials, millennials top tv shows, millennials tv, summer tv
Related News
Super start for ‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’
Republicans pull National Review debate sponsorship
Where top ad categories spend their dollars
‘Hello, Brussels? Tell me if it’s safe.’
Don’t miss this: The new face of radio
Rachel, tell me what to leave off my resume
What’s the future for men’s magazines?
Weekend TV: It’s Manning vs. Brady
Cable overnights: Warriors golden for ESPN
What’s making America fat? TV ads.
Study: Most Super Bowl ads fail
Oops: Penthouse will continue in print
‘Criminal Minds’ matches a season high
People
- John Seifert rises to CEO at Ogilvy & Mather
- Ashlea Wolcott rises to vice president at Media Works
- Greg Flaherty becomes chief revenue officer at TSN Advertising
- Chelsea Freitas becomes strategist at Giant Spoon
- Marion Parrish becomes SVP of digital at Outfront Media
- Ed Bennett and Sam Soulek rise at Colle+McVoy
- Devan Fearman becomes VP of marketing at Metamarkets
- Regina Hall joins the cast of Hulu's 'Crushed'
This week’s broadcast ratings
This week’s cable ratings
This week’s top movies, songs and books
This week’s daypart ratings
This month’s new media traffic data
This week’s younger viewer ratings
Media planner/buyer position in Cincinnati
Looking for a media strategist in Cincinnati
Opening for a marketing communications manager
Media coordinator opening in Minneapolis
Media planner/buyer wanted in Louisville