ABC’s once unstoppable Lost has sprung an unexpected leak, reports Marc Berman. The season three thriller remained the top-rated option at 9 p.m. last night at 16.66 million viewers and a 6.7 rating/17 share among adults 18-49, according to Nielsen Media Research data. But comparably that was only 180,000 viewers ahead of CBS’ competing Criminal Minds. And, year-to-year, that was a loss of 5.0 million viewers and 28 percent among adults 18-49.
There’s absolutely no denying, this is a huge fall-off. Last year, when Lost’s second season premiered, the ratings were absolutely colossal; the show seemed unstoppable. The viewers disappeared during the second, and have simply continued to do so. Adults 18-49 is Lost’s key demographic, and a 28 percent loss is certainly worrying.
The show is unlikely to be cancelled anytime soon, but Lost needs to plug the leak before it sinks the ship.