Uh-oh! 🙁
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Twin_Peaks_episodes#cite_ref-Part_17_.26_18_52-0
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I wonder how/why 14,000 people tuned in for Part 17-- but not Part 18? Maybe they were satisfied with Part 17 as "The Return?"
Does anyone have a sense of how to adjust such a figure to account for streaming? For torrents?
I recall hearing that 17 million viewers "attended" the Game of Thrones Season 6 premiere... It's amazing (and strangely hard to recall what it was like, these days) to consider that the Twin Peaks pilot received fully twice as many viewers as the GoT Season 6 premiere...
I suspect that's not actually a valid comparison, given changes in distribution models and techniques for measuring/sampling audiences.
And do those figures include the global audience across all time slots? In the UK the simulcast was at like 2am in the morning so repeated on other days of the week at a more acceptable time for most people. Plus like Badalamenti Fan suggests, other things to consider too.
Twin peaks is a niche series remember. It's not GOT, which caters to a broad market.
That said, I'm hopeful it'll show much better ratings with time.
Accounting for streaming would be vital... and if Nielsen is the only data source, it doesn't seem they've done that. I've never subscribed to a premium cable package, and at this point I'm sure I never will. Back in the spring I subscribed to Showtime through Amazon for $9 a month to watch Season 2 of Billions, and then I kept the subscription to watch Twin Peaks. If nothing else catches my eye, I'll probably cancel the subscription - and then sign up again when Billions (or something else good) comes back. TV has gone a la carte. There's no reason to pay for a bigger commitment if you're not using it.
Just went into all that because I'm sure a lot of other people are thinking the same way, especially for an "event" show like The Return that plays to a devoted niche audience. Streaming numbers are going to reflect a disproportionate portion of that viewership. Showtime (which has all the numbers and knows what it means to turn a profit) knows whether this was a success for them even if we don't. I'd honestly guess that in this case, Nielsen ratings tell us very little.
It is kind of fascinating to see the huge drop-off after the first two episodes. It's as if, instead of trying to draw viewers in, Lynch & Co. put up a big DO NOT ENTER sign saying that if any of this strikes you as too nutso, you probably shouldn't venture any further. Considering how even hard-core fans took the finale, that was probably a kind warning. 😉
(But then viewership picked up a bit in the middle. How could those people have any idea what was going on?)
Twin peaks is a niche series remember. It's not GOT, which caters to a broad market.
That said, I'm hopeful it'll show much better ratings with time.
34 million people viewed the 1991 Twin Peaks pilot. The Return has only a niche audience today, to be sure... but I was nevertheless shocked to observe the gulf separating the original pilot and that of the GoT Season 6 premiere. . Like I said, different eras (in terms of viewer behavior and media environment) and limited/troubled tools for measuring audiences today, of course, but it's a stunning contrast nonetheless, IMO...
Maybe they got to far with the dougie-thing, i think many people felt the spirit was missing in the first episodes.
(...)- and then sign up again when Billions (or something else good) comes back. (...)
You mean "When Twin Peaks Season 4 starts". 😉
(...)- and then sign up again when Billions (or something else good) comes back. (...)
You mean "When Twin Peaks Season 4 starts". 😉
I would "like" that twice if I could. Guess I just didn't want to jinx it. 😉
But if any of the fine (and handsome) folks from Showtime are reading, I promise you can count on another $27 or so from me any time you want to bring back Twin Peaks. And I'll double that if you announce it before I've torn out all my hair over the Season 3 finale.
(...)- and then sign up again when Billions (or something else good) comes back. (...)
You mean "When Twin Peaks Season 4 starts". 😉
I would "like" that twice if I could. Guess I just didn't want to jinx it. 😉
But if any of the fine (and handsome) folks from Showtime are reading, I promise you can count on another $27 or so from me any time you want to bring back Twin Peaks. And I'll double that if you announce it before I've torn out all my hair over the Season 3 finale.
I'll see your double and I'll triple it!
Don't forget smart, charming, well liked, good smelling and well dressed..... 😀
Uh-oh! 🙁
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Twin_Peaks_episodes#cite_ref-Part_17_.26_18_52-0
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Is this Showtime or Nielson figures?
I don't count in either of them.
Part of the problem is that Season 3 was sitting behind a pay wall. For the fans this was great because Lynch/Frost had so much creative control. However, many people just will, or cannot, pay just to see this show. I know a few people, who have been huge fans since the 90's, chose to opt out of paying for the subscription. They decided to purchase the Blue Ray when it comes out. Showtime just might be surprised at how many people are making the same choice. When you add in Blu Ray sells, live #'s, global ratings, streaming, etc. Who knows the numbers could turn out to be 10 times higher than what we are seeing reported.
Part of the problem is that Season 3 was sitting behind a pay wall. For the fans this was great because Lynch/Frost had so much creative control. However, many people just will, or cannot, pay just to see this show. I know a few people, who have been huge fans since the 90's, chose to opt out of paying for the subscription. They decided to purchase the Blue Ray when it comes out. Showtime just might be surprised at how many people are making the same choice. When you add in Blu Ray sells, live #'s, global ratings, streaming, etc. Who knows the numbers could turn out to be 10 times higher than what we are seeing reported.
For my part, I subscribed to Showtime for the premiere, then found the streaming annoying (e.g., buffering, no doubt on account of my slow wi-fi router, but nevertheless)... and proceeded to download HD torrents for the remainder of the series (while letting showtime automatically debit). Then I cancelled.
I have a low opinion of Showtime and its competitors, generally... so I hope they registered how many new subscribers circa the premiere quit after the finale.
Part of the problem is that Season 3 was sitting behind a pay wall. For the fans this was great because Lynch/Frost had so much creative control. However, many people just will, or cannot, pay just to see this show. I know a few people, who have been huge fans since the 90's, chose to opt out of paying for the subscription. They decided to purchase the Blue Ray when it comes out. Showtime just might be surprised at how many people are making the same choice. When you add in Blu Ray sells, live #'s, global ratings, streaming, etc. Who knows the numbers could turn out to be 10 times higher than what we are seeing reported.
Along with this point, I know almost no one whom purchases access to Showtime. I had not had Showtime my entire life before picking it up for a few months during this shows run. I equally canceled it immediately following the second watching of the finale. I failed to find anything on the network to justify paying more a month than I do for Netflix. Since late May I confirm that I have not watched any other series and less than 4 movies offered on the network.
Part of the problem is that Season 3 was sitting behind a pay wall. For the fans this was great because Lynch/Frost had so much creative control. However, many people just will, or cannot, pay just to see this show. I know a few people, who have been huge fans since the 90's, chose to opt out of paying for the subscription. They decided to purchase the Blue Ray when it comes out. Showtime just might be surprised at how many people are making the same choice. When you add in Blu Ray sells, live #'s, global ratings, streaming, etc. Who knows the numbers could turn out to be 10 times higher than what we are seeing reported.
What needs to be understood is that Showtime is not available in every country. Some countries got TPTR at a delayed showing by other providers and some had to resort to 'other means' to see the show because it wasn't available worldwide at the same time.
Showtime got an 11% increase in membership just because of their showing TPTR in one country. That's not something they will turn their nose up at, especially when future overseas sales get taken into account.
When we become a truly global society (ie - any country can subscribe to Showtime and watch it when it is released at the same time) then they will know the real impact the show had.
Meanwhile... write to Showtime and tell them how much you loved the show and that you want more!
Fire walk with