Tim Allen’s Sitcom Achieves 6-Year High Viewership for ABC Despite 42% Rotten Tomatoes Rating

Tim Allen’s latest sitcom, Shifting Gears, has made a striking entrance into the television landscape, achieving unprecedented viewership acclaim for ABC. Premiering on January 8, the series revolves around Matt (Allen), a widowed auto shop owner who welcomes his estranged daughter (Kat Dennings) and her two children, Carter (Maxwell Simkins) and Georgia (Barrett Margolis), into his life. Despite receiving only a 42% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the show has exceeded expectations in terms of audience engagement, setting a new standard for ABC’s programming in the competitive Wednesday 8 p.m. timeslot.

According to data from TheWrap, Shifting Gears witnessed an incredible 173% surge in viewership, attracting an impressive live-plus-same-day audience of 6.2 million viewers, as reported by Nielsen Media Research. The sitcom particularly resonated with adults aged 18 to 49, attaining a commendable 0.87 rating in that demographic. Beyond conventional television, the show also thrived on streaming platforms, accumulating a total of 12.45 million viewers, excluding encore presentations. In total, the series amassed an astounding 16.95 million views across all platforms, marking it as ABC’s highest-watched series premiere since The Conners in 2018.

Impact on ABC’s Programming Strategy

Influence on Future Programming Decisions

The astounding viewership garnered by Shifting Gears indicates a promising trajectory for ABC in both linear and streaming realms. Surpassing expectations with a total of 16.95 million viewers, the show’s significant performance across ABC, Hulu, and Hulu on Disney+ underscores its broad appeal. The impressive 173% increase in viewership further reflects ABC’s capability to engage diverse audiences and platforms. This trend signifies the potential for successfully blending traditional broadcasting with streaming initiatives to widen viewer reach.

Moreover, the show’s performance highlights ABC’s strategic focus on programming that captures widespread interest. An observable 26% increase in linear television viewership—from 6.2 million to 7.82 million—illustrates that audiences remain invested in traditional broadcasts even as they opt for streaming alternatives. This pattern could lead ABC to prioritize the development of content that attracts both live viewers and on-demand watchers.

Additionally, the success of Shifting Gears could signal a strategic pivot in ABC’s programming approach, perhaps favoring star-driven comedies that can draw significant audiences. With Tim Allen leading the cast, the series successfully taps into his established fan base, a factor likely contributing to its elevated viewership. This strategy may motivate ABC to consider other high-profile talent in upcoming projects, allowing the network to sustain a competitive position in an ever-evolving entertainment industry.

Analysis of Viewership Performance

Strong Numbers in the Face of Criticism

Kat Dennings as Riley and Tim Allen as Matt in Shifting Gears.

Despite mixed reviews, the viewership performance of Shifting Gears is undeniably commendable. The ability of the show to attract close to 17 million viewers, even amid a less favorable Rotten Tomatoes score, showcases the influence of established stars and proficient cross-platform distribution strategies. If the series can maintain its current momentum, it holds great potential to reshape ABC’s priorities in programming, inspiring the network to focus on productions with wider appeal and star power.

Source: TheWrap

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