'Homeland’ Early Preview Helps Build Premiere Audience

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Showtime’s decision to offer an early preview of the season six premiere of Homeland helped draw record numbers for the drama series.

The Jan. 15 premiere of the series drew 2.6 million viewers: 1.35 million on premiere night (Nielsen Live+Same Day ratings) with several replays, along with 1.25 million watchers in early online and VOD viewership since Dec. 30. That total matched the show's season three debut for the series’ most viewers ever for a premiere episode, said network officials. This was the first time Showtime had offered on-demand and streaming subscribers' an advance view of a Homeland season premiere episode. 

With the early preview, season six premiere is the up 24% over the season five premiere (which did not feature early sneak peak viewing), as well as 7% ahead of the season five finale.

Homeland’s sixth season, which stars Claire Danes, Mandy Patinkin and F. Murray Abraham, takes place in New York between a Presidential election day and inauguration day. 

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.