TV Ratings: Monarch Sings for FOX

FOX's delayed freshman drama Monarch finally premiered on Sunday after several delays.

Monarch Season 1 Episode 1 kicked off with ~~2.5 million viewers and a 0.5 rating, according to early numbers.~~

UPDATE: In the fast affiliate ratings, Monarch managed a combined 5.3 million viewers and a 1.0 rating among adults 18-49.

The numbers are made up of two airings, with the first having 3.8 million and a 0.8 rating and the second having 1.5 million viewers and a 0.2 rating.

FOX notes that these numbers make it the #1 scripted launch of 2022 and FOX's most-watched fall debut in three years (since Prodigal Son).

Seeing how the numbers stack up when delayed viewing is released will be exciting because the premiere faced some stiff competition.

The network also notes that the series outpaces the linear debut of HBO's House of the Dragon by 33%.

The true test for Monarch will be when the series moves to its regularly scheduled Tuesdays at 9 p.m. time period on September 20.

Many new shows falter in their second episode.

We need to see the delayed viewing numbers and whether many of the premiere viewers follow the show to Tuesdays. to assess whether there is a big enough interest in the series.

Elsewhere on the night, Big Brother's double eviction aftermath played out with 3.9 million viewers and a 0.7 rating.

Before that, 60 Minutes had 6.8 million viewers and a 0.9 rating.

ABC went with Celebrity Family Feud (4 million viewers, 0.5 rating), The $100,000 Pyramid (3.4 million/0.4 rating), and The Final Straw (1.6 million/0.3 rating).