New Series on Cable with the Most Viewers for Their 2014 Premiere Episodes
Mike Vicic - September 5, 2014
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With the fall TV season starting, we thought we'd take a look back at the first eight months of 2014 and find the most viewed cable series premieres so far this year. TNT boasts the most viewed series debut (THE LAST SHIP) and two of the top four series openers (MURDER IN THE FIRST is in 4th place). The other two top spots belong to shows on the Disney Channel: GIRL MEETS WORLD and I DIDN'T DO IT. How does your favorite new series rank?
To assemble this list, we scoured the web to find viewer data for as many programs as possible, and we aggregated the information here. From New Year's Day through Labor Day 2014, cable networks have premiered more than 800 new series, and we were able to find data for total number of Live + Same Day viewers for more than 180 of these programs. Cable networks did publically report ratings and viewership data for many more shows, but they focused on household rating, different viewing periods, specific demographics, or cumulative viewers for multiple airings so that they could tout each show as being the best in whatever obscure category was convenient for marketing. Also, we ignored TV miniseries -- including HOUDINI with 3.71 million viewers for its first night -- and we excluded more than 90 made-for-TV movies -- such as Lifetime's FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC, which attracted 6.05 million viewers, the most of any cable telefilm so far this year.
If you don't see your favorite TV series on the list, that program's series premiere episode didn't necessarily have low viewership; it simply means we couldn't find data for total number of Live + Same Day viewers, which "includes Live viewing and DVR playback on the Same Day, defined as 3am-3am," according to Nielsen.
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| Series Title | Network | Premiere Date | Total Viewers, Millions (Live + Same Day) |
| THE LAST SHIP | TNT | June 22, 2014 | 5.33 |
| GIRL MEETS WORLD | Disney | June 27, 2014 | 5.16 |
| I DIDN'T DO IT | Disney | January 17, 2014 | 3.89 |
| MURDER IN THE FIRST | TNT | June 9, 2014 | 3.76 |
| THE WORLD WARS | History | May 26, 2014 | 3.39 |
| BEING MARY JANE | BET | January 7, 2014 | 3.32 |
| WAHLBURGERS | A&E | January 22, 2014 | 3.26 |
| THE STRAIN | FX | July 13, 2014 | 2.99 |
| PAWNOGRAPHY | History | July 10, 2014 | 2.90 |
| APPALACHIAN OUTLAWS | History | January 9, 2014 | 2.79 |
| FARGO | FX | April 15, 2014 | 2.65 |
| LEGENDS | TNT | August 13, 2014 | 2.58 |
| THE CURSE OF OAK ISLAND | History | January 5, 2014 | 2.53 |
| BLOOD, SWEAT & HEELS | Bravo | January 5, 2014 | 2.48 |
| THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA: KANDI'S WEDDING | Bravo | June 1, 2014 | 2.44 |
| RETURN TO AMISH | TLC | June 1, 2014 | 2.43 |
| TRUE DETECTIVE | HBO | January 12, 2014 | 2.33 |
| ATLANTA EXES | VH1 | August 18, 2014 | 2.28 |
| D-DAY IN HD | History | June 6, 2014 | 2.22 |
| BIG SMO | A&E | June 11, 2014 | 2.18 |
| TURN | AMC | April 6, 2014 | 2.12 |
| TYRANT | FX | June 24, 2014 | 2.10 |
| GAME OF STONES | Discovery | February 28, 2014 | 2.06 |
| BLACK JESUS | adult swim | August 7, 2014 | 2.05 |
| CRYPTID: THE SWAMP BEAST | History | February 24, 2014 | 2.01 |
| CRAZY HEARTS: NASHVILLE | A&E | January 15, 2014 | 1.99 |
| SILICON VALLEY | HBO | April 6, 2014 | 1.98 |
| BRANDI AND JARROD: MARRIED TO THE JOB | A&E | August 12, 2014 | 1.97 |
| DOMINION | Syfy | June 19, 2014 | 1.96 |
| THE TYLER PERRY SHOW | OWN | February 25, 2014 | 1.92 |
| THE HUNT | History | June 8, 2014 | 1.88 |
| BARRY'D TREASURE | A&E | March 18, 2014 | 1.88 |
| HELIX | Syfy | January 10, 2014 | 1.82 |
| LIVING ALASKA | HGTV | March 23, 2014 | 1.80 |
| ALASKAN BUSH PEOPLE | Discovery | May 6, 2014 | 1.78 |
| DOWN EAST DICKERING | History | April 2, 2014 | 1.78 |
| THE LEFTOVERS | HBO | June 29, 2014 | 1.77 |
| CARIBBEAN LIFE | HGTV | March 30, 2014 | 1.71 |
| SATISFACTION | USA | July 17, 2014 | 1.71 |
| RUSH | USA | July 17, 2014 | 1.70 |
| FINDING CARTER | MTV | July 8, 2014 | 1.69 |
| WHEN CALLS THE HEART | Hallmark | January 11, 2014 | 1.68 |
| KIM OF QUEENS | Lifetime | January 1, 2014 | 1.64 |
| FLIPPING THE BLOCK | HGTV | July 20, 2014 | 1.62 |
| NO MAN'S LAND | History | March 9, 2014 | 1.59 |
| HOUSE HUNTERS OFF THE GRID | HGTV | April 21, 2014 | 1.58 |
| CHOPPED: TOURNAMENT OF STARS | Food Network | March 9, 2014 | 1.57 |
| 90 DAY FIANCE | TLC | January 12, 2014 | 1.57 |
| HIGHWAY TO SELL | Discovery | September 1, 2014 | 1.56 |
| SALEM | WGN America | April 20, 2014 | 1.52 |
| DORA & FRIENDS: INTO THE CITY | Nick | August 18, 2014 | 1.50 |
| WOLF WATCH | MTV | January 6, 2014 | 1.49 |
| CHOPPED TEEN TOURNAMENT | Food Network | July 15, 2014 | 1.49 |
| MY FIVE WIVES | TLC | March 9, 2014 | 1.48 |
| VACATION HOUSE FOR FREE | HGTV | August 17, 2014 | 1.48 |
| CHOPPED: ULTIMATE CHAMPIONS | Food Network | August 26, 2014 | 1.45 |
| THOSE WHO KILL | A&E | March 3, 2014 | 1.44 |
| BLACK SAILS | Starz | January 25, 2014 | 1.43 |
| THIS IS HOT 97 | VH1 | March 31, 2014 | 1.43 |
| NAKED AFTER DARK | Discovery | March 16, 2014 | 1.41 |
| BILLY BOB'S GAGS TO RICHES | Discovery | January 28, 2014 | 1.38 |
| BEAT BOBBY FLAY | Food Network | March 6, 2014 | 1.37 |
| OBSESSION: DARK DESIRES | ID | January 14, 2014 | 1.36 |
| CHASING LIFE | ABC Family | June 10, 2014 | 1.35 |
| SIRENS | USA | March 6, 2014 | 1.33 |
| CHOPPED CANADA | Food Network | January 9, 2014 | 1.32 |
| REBEL ROAD | Discovery | April 28, 2014 | 1.32 |
| LORDS OF THE CAR HOARDS | Discovery | March 17, 2014 | 1.30 |
| LEAH REMINI: IT'S ALL RELATIVE | TLC | July 10, 2014 | 1.28 |
| SIBERIAN CUT | Discovery | June 3, 2014 | 1.26 |
| LAKEFRONT BARGAIN HUNT | HGTV | September 1, 2014 | 1.25 |
| DARK HORSE NATION | History | July 29, 2014 | 1.23 |
| CATCH A CONTRACTOR | Spike | March 9, 2014 | 1.23 |
| SAINT GEORGE | FX | March 6, 2014 | 1.21 |
| KODIAK | Discovery | May 14, 2014 | 1.20 |
| THE CARBONARO EFFECT | truTV | May 15, 2014 | 1.20 |
| DON'T TRUST ANDREW MAYNE | A&E | January 13, 2014 | 1.20 |
| HALT AND CATCH FIRE | AMC | June 1, 2014 | 1.19 |
| TRUE TORI | Lifetime | April 22, 2014 | 1.18 |
| BAD TEACHERS | ID | April 22, 2014 | 1.18 |
| LADIES OF LONDON | Bravo | June 2, 2014 | 1.17 |
| FAT N' FURIOUS: ROLLING THUNDER | Discovery | June 23, 2014 | 1.17 |
| FAKING IT | MTV | April 22, 2014 | 1.16 |
| CANDID CAMERA | TV Land | August 11, 2014 | 1.14 |
| ONLINE DATING RITUALS OF THE AMERICAN MALE | Bravo | March 9, 2014 | 1.13 |
| MARRIED | FX | July 17, 2014 | 1.12 |
| PARTNERS | FX | August 4, 2014 | 1.12 |
| TABLOID | ID | January 16, 2014 | 1.12 |
| JIM HENSON'S CREATURE SHOP CHALLENGE | Syfy | March 25, 2014 | 1.12 |
| WICKED TUNA: NORTH VS. SOUTH | Nat Geo | August 17, 2014 | 1.12 |
| JERKS WITH CAMERAS | MTV | January 16, 2014 | 1.12 |
| LAST WEEK TONIGHT WITH JOHN OLIVER | HBO | April 27, 2014 | 1.11 |
| CLASH OF THE OZARKS | Discovery | February 25, 2014 | 1.11 |
| THE BIG TIP | Food Network | June 8, 2014 | 1.11 |
| THE '90S: THE LAST GREAT DECADE? | Nat Geo | July 6, 2014 | 1.10 |
| BAM'S BAD ASS GAME SHOW | tbs | April 14, 2014 | 1.10 |
| YOUNG & HUNGRY | ABC Family | June 25, 2014 | 1.09 |
| CHRISLEY KNOWS BEST | USA | March 11, 2014 | 1.09 |
| THE LOTTERY | Lifetime | July 20, 2014 | 1.08 |
| #RICHKIDS OF BEVERLY HILLS | E! | January 19, 2014 | 1.08 |
| BOSS HOG | Discovery | April 11, 2014 | 1.08 |
| AMERICA'S BEST COOK | Food Network | April 13, 2014 | 1.07 |
| #BIKERLIVE | Discovery | May 12, 2014 | 1.06 |
| SWV REUNITED | WE | January 16, 2014 | 1.03 |
| THE POOL MASTER | Animal Planet | June 20, 2014 | 1.02 |
| WIZARD WARS | Syfy | August 19, 2014 | 1.02 |
| TIMBER KINGS | Discovery | March 8, 2014 | 1.02 |
| BRING IT! | Lifetime | March 5, 2014 | 1.01 |
| GAME OF ARMS | AMC | February 25, 2014 | 1.01 |
| IMPOSTORS | ID | January 24, 2014 | 1.01 |
| THE ALMIGHTY JOHNSONS | Syfy | July 11, 2014 | 1.01 |
| OPPOSITE WORLDS | Syfy | January 21, 2014 | 1.01 |
| RODS N' WHEELS | Discovery | February 3, 2014 | 1.01 |
| THE HUNT WITH JOHN WALSH | CNN | July 13, 2014 | 0.99 |
| SOUTHERN CHARM | Bravo | March 3, 2014 | 0.98 |
| EATING AMERICA WITH ANTHONY ANDERSON | Food Network | July 28, 2014 | 0.97 |
| CRY WOLFE | ID | June 3, 2014 | 0.96 |
| VIRGIN TERRITORY | MTV | July 16, 2014 | 0.95 |
| EPIC INK | A&E | August 20, 2014 | 0.95 |
| CHOZEN | FX | January 13, 2014 | 0.95 |
| HUNGRY INVESTORS | Spike | May 4, 2014 | 0.93 |
| ESCAPE CLUB | E! | June 8, 2014 | 0.93 |
| CEELO GREEN'S THE GOOD LIFE | tbs | June 23, 2014 | 0.92 |
| BROAD CITY | Comedy Central | January 22, 2014 | 0.91 |
| OMG EMT! | TLC | May 3, 2014 | 0.91 |
| CEMENT HEADS | A&E | August 12, 2014 | 0.91 |
| HOUSE OF HORRORS: KIDNAPPED | ID | February 26, 2014 | 0.90 |
| BEASTS OF THE BAYOU | Discovery | July 10, 2014 | 0.90 |
| TATTOO NIGHTMARES: MIAMI | Spike | September 2, 2014 | 0.90 |
| MANHATTAN | WGN America | July 27, 2014 | 0.90 |
| JENNIFER FALLS | TV Land | June 4, 2014 | 0.89 |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOUNTY HUNTERS | Animal Planet | April 13, 2014 | 0.88 |
| FIVE FIGURE FLIP | HGTV | May 6, 2014 | 0.88 |
| VEGAS RAT RODS | Discovery | May 19, 2014 | 0.88 |
| LONE TARGET | Discovery | January 1, 2014 | 0.88 |
| BIKER BATTLEGROUND PHOENIX | History | July 1, 2014 | 0.88 |
| BUYING NAKED | TLC | June 28, 2014 | 0.87 |
| PENNY DREADFUL | Showtime | May 11, 2014 | 0.87 |
| MILLION DOLLAR LISTING MIAMI | Bravo | June 25, 2014 | 0.86 |
| KITCHEN CASINO | Food Network | April 7, 2014 | 0.85 |
| MOST INFAMOUS | ID | May 7, 2014 | 0.85 |
| PLAYING HOUSE | USA | April 29, 2014 | 0.85 |
| UNTYING THE KNOT | Bravo | June 4, 2014 | 0.84 |
| ABBY'S STUDIO RESCUE | Lifetime | June 24, 2014 | 0.84 |
| SNACK-OFF | MTV | July 10, 2014 | 0.83 |
| DATING NAKED | VH1 | July 17, 2014 | 0.83 |
| ESCAPING THE PROPHET | TLC | January 7, 2014 | 0.83 |
| SINISTER MINISTERS: COLLARED | ID | May 27, 2014 | 0.83 |
| HOW (NOT) TO KILL YOUR HUSBAND | ID | April 12, 2014 | 0.82 |
| TOP CHEF DUELS | Bravo | August 6, 2014 | 0.82 |
| LITTLE WOMEN: LA | Lifetime | May 27, 2014 | 0.82 |
| SISTERHOOD OF HIP HOP | Oxygen | August 12, 2014 | 0.81 |
| INTRUDERS | BBC America | August 23, 2014 | 0.80 |
| GIRLFRIEND INTERVENTION | Lifetime | August 27, 2014 | 0.79 |
| DEVIL IN THE DETAILS | ID | June 14, 2014 | 0.79 |
| BOTCHED | E! | June 24, 2014 | 0.78 |
| MAROONED | Discovery | April 23, 2014 | 0.76 |
| MYSTERY GIRLS | ABC Family | June 25, 2014 | 0.76 |
| YOU'RE THE WORST | FX | July 17, 2014 | 0.76 |
| CHROME UNDERGROUND | Discovery | May 23, 2014 | 0.74 |
| TRIPTANK | Comedy Central | April 2, 2014 | 0.74 |
| LAST SEEN ALIVE | ID | June 1, 2014 | 0.72 |
| OUTLANDER | Starz | August 9, 2014 | 0.72 |
| 100 DAYS OF SUMMER | Bravo | January 7, 2014 | 0.72 |
| DEION'S FAMILY PLAYBOOK | OWN | March 1, 2014 | 0.71 |
| MOM'S GOT GAME | OWN | January 18, 2014 | 0.71 |
| REWRAPPED | Food Network | April 21, 2014 | 0.69 |
| THE SAFECRACKERS | truTV | March 24, 2014 | 0.69 |
| PARTY DOWN SOUTH | CMT | January 16, 2014 | 0.68 |
| 10 MILLION DOLLAR BIGFOOT BOUNTY | Spike | January 10, 2014 | 0.64 |
| MY BIG REDNECK FAMILY | CMT | January 18, 2014 | 0.64 |
| AMERICAN MUSCLE | Discovery | July 9, 2014 | 0.56 |
| PRIVATE LIVES OF NASHVILLE WIVES | TNT | February 24, 2014 | 0.54 |
| REVIEW | Comedy Central | March 6, 2014 | 0.54 |
| 30 FOR 30: SOCCER STORIES | ESPN | April 15, 2014 | 0.53 |
| HOUSE OF FOOD | MTV | March 31, 2014 | 0.51 |
| FUNNIEST WINS | tbs | June 20, 2014 | 0.48 |
| POWER | Starz | June 7, 2014 | 0.46 |
| I LOVE THE 2000S | VH1 | June 17, 2014 | 0.41 |
| RELATIVE INSANITY | Lifetime | April 25, 2014 | 0.38 |
| THE KNICK | Cinemax | August 8, 2014 | 0.35 |
| GARFUNKEL AND OATES | IFC | August 7, 2014 | 0.20 |
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