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TheWrap

Fox Boss Responds to Record-Low Ratings for ‘Utopia’

Sep 11, 2014  •  Post A Comment

Fox Television Group Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Dana Walden told TheWrap.com that the network will “have patience” with the network’s high-profile reality show “Utopia,” after Tuesday’s time-slot premiere tied for the lowest fall series premiere on the top four broadcast networks.

The $50 million show unofficially launched Sunday, although the network is treating that broadcast as a preview, the story notes. Tuesday’s official premiere scored a 0.9 rating, matching the debut of “School Pride” on NBC on Oct. 15, 2010. The number was down 55% from Sunday’s average.

“Numbers like that would usually lead to certain cancellation,” the story notes.

Walden said the network likes the show and its ambition.

“It’s a show that feels familiar but had a great unconventional twist. There’s an aspirational feel to it. But we launched it really early, maybe before viewers were ready for a new fall show,” she said. “No one thought we were going to launch a huge ratings juggernaut, but with patience it will grow — and we’re going to have patience.”

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One Comment

  1. If they only did that for Almost Human,Terra Nova, Firefly, and a host of others. Many of these shows had higher ratings yet were still yanked. We would be watching more broadcast TV, which is well known for premature ejection from the schedule, if they gave shows a decent chance. Unfortunately the disease has spread to cable. Thanks for Netflix

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