I received the following e-mail:
You say you like DAMAGES, but you're nothing but a hater! You twist the numbers and say that Breaking Bad has more viewers, but DAMAGES airs multiple times and is available ON-DEMAND, and when you add it all up, DAMAGES has more viewers!!!
I'm definitely not a hater, I just don't get very emotional about the numbers, and the above writer (and sentiment) is wrong if I look at the actual data. Because like Damages, Breaking Bad airs multiple times too, and is available On-Demand. While I have no access to the on-demand numbers for either, I doubt that it currently represents a significant % of viewing for either show (even though that is the way I watch both!), though I would love to see the data. But when it comes to Nielsen ratings data, the comparisons seem pretty fair and no matter how you slice it more people are watching Breaking Bad.
| Show | Net | Day | Time | Avg Aud (000) |
| Breaking Bad | AMC | Sun | 10:00P-11:00P | 1,294 |
| Breaking Bad | AMC | Sun | 11:00P-12:00A | 665 |
| Breaking Bad | AMC | Fri | 10:30P-11:30P | 546 |
| Breaking Bad | AMC | Wed | 12:00A-01:00A | 367 |
| Breaking Bad | AMC | Sun | 01:00A-02:00A | 326 |
| total of average viewers | 3,198 | |||
| DAMAGES | FX | Wed | 10:00P-11:03P | 890 |
| DAMAGES | FX | Sun | 11:00P-12:03A | 520 |
| DAMAGES | FX | Wed | 11:03P-12:05A | 485 |
| DAMAGES | FX | Fri | 11:00P-12:03A | 388 |
| DAMAGES | FX | Wed | 01:04A-02:00A | 192 |
| total of average viewers | 2,475 | |||
| Breaking Bad Average | 639.6 | |||
| Damages Average | 495 |
One commenter noted that Damages is apparently very popluar in the UK, drawing numbers that are definitely bigger than the initial airing in the USA, but I haven't seen the actual data so I can't confirm that.
I wouldn’t say Damages is bigger in the UK than in the US but the numbers are nearly double what they are on FX although they only show it twice a week with a new episode on Sundays and the repeat on Tuesday.
Just did a check and it got 1.7m for its second season opener and has been doing 1.2-1.5m which is okay for its slot.
Looks like the numbers are decent enough for both, though BB is hitting bigger than I expected. Probably a result of the Emmy win for Cranston (my dark horse against Jon Hamm’s near-certainty). With Damages getting at least one more season already, I expect it’ll stay pretty consistent for tonight’s season finale airing (maybe trending slightly up?).
But I agree, these are the numbers. We can spin with emotion all we want, but the broadcast data clearly shows BB ahead in that horse race. I’m betting AMC is quite happy having Mad Men and BB perform as they have, with big increases over their season 1 averages.
As for FX… well they may have already secured S3 already, but I am curious what they’re now expecting out of the show from here on out. I recall a posting here about 6 weeks back where you talked about how they were spinning things, with big DVR numbers, etc. But every show sees an increase from DVRs, so that is probably a wash. I would be curious as well about VOD numbers. That’s how I watched Damages at home last summer, and I know my dad is still seeing it that way (I record or watch live at college). And of course there’s DVD sales. That’s a factor that this site doesn’t track, but I’d be curious to see sales and rental numbers there as well. As always, iTunes, Hulu. etc. numbers are insignificant. Thousands, not even tens of thousands would be my bet there.
My bet is that Damages may be as much about the creative cachet as anything. Saying you have Glenn Close on your network will likely help bring in other big names for other new shows in the future. So maybe it’s as much about the potential for rebuilding their stable of edgy dramas with The Shield gone and Rescue Me on its way out.
Or maybe the FX heads are just being affected by the fumes of Walter White’s chemistry…
Yes, last Sundau Damages got 1.3m viewers on Sunday at 10:20pm, thought this is very low for a main channel in that slot, it is ok for an American show!
its repeat got 0.5m on Tuesday Night at 11:20pm, thats ok for that slot
MASSIVE QUERY what weeks episodes are these – is this both premieres numbers – both latest episode numbers. If the 1.2+ million episode is not the premiere wow BB is doing a lot better than I thought!
Raymond, the Breaking Bad premiere had 1.7 mil viewers.
Jason’s comments make sense, FX has always touted itself as the HBO of basic cable and by having programmes like Damages with big name stars like Glenn Close, they will attract critical acclaims and awards even if the ratings don’t justify it, I think that the reason why HBO kept The Wire despite low ratings.
I think FX have been overshadowed by AMC and they do need to develop new dramas that will be please not only their advertisers but critics and audiences and eventually replace aging shows like Rescue Me and Nip/Tuck.
I think also that Sons of Anarchy does pretty well for FX but I think they would like another big hit to replace Nip Tuck which is two seasons away from ending and I doubt Leary will have Rescue Me go for too much longer.
AMC needs another show or two for year round original programing. I don’t know if anything is in the works though. They certainly are batting 1.000 for the two shows they started with.
These are two my most favourite shows. I love both of them and have turned many people into fans of these who had not seen them before.
Excellent TV. Well written and well acted.
Because Breaking Bad is on so late where I live and they have copy restrictions on my stupid Windows Media Center Based PVR I have a MythBuntu machine set up just so I can record it and watch it the next day!
I tried watching both of the shows and I think that Damages is significantly better. And honestly I think that more people would watch Damages over Breaking Bad, if they got a chance.