Showtime’s ‘Ray Donovan’ Premiere Draws Record 1.35 Million Viewers

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Showtime’s freshman drama Ray Donovan Sunday set a network record for a series debut with 1.35 million viewers, network officials said Monday.

The series, which stars Liev Schreiber as a celebrity fixer who’s having to deal with his past as well as his icy relationship with his father (Jon Voight), bested the 2011 debut of Homeland by 25%, said the network. With additional arings the show averaged 2.2 million viewers for the night, besting the premiere audience for Homeland by 61%.

The season-eight debut of Dexter delivered the show’s biggest premiere audience with 2.5 million viewers, up 4% from its season-seven premiere, and 3.2 million viewers with additional airings, according to Nielsen data.

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.