Fox Premieres 'Best Medicine,' 'Fear Factor,' and 'Memory of a Killer' to Strong Ratings

The Fox broadcast network had its best midseason launch in 14 years, Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch said Wednesday, telling Wall Street analysts that the company maintains a strong appetite for entertainment programming. 'Best Medicine', an American adaptation of 'Doc Martin', garnered 12 million viewers across platforms after premiering on January 4. 'Fear Factor: House of Fear', hosted by Johnny Knoxville, debuted after an NFL playoff game on January 11, drawing 6.35 million viewers initially and growing to 11.6 million across platforms. 'Memory of a Killer', starring Patrick Dempsey, premiered after the NFC Championship game on January 25, opening with 7.39 million viewers and increasing to 11.6 million across platforms. Including repeats, the three January premieres accumulated 3.5 billion minutes of viewing time in January, and Fox Entertainment shows (i.e., non-sports programming on the network) had 9.2 billion minutes of watch time.

What contributed to the success of these premieres?

The strong lead-in from NFL games, combined with the appeal of the shows themselves, drove significant viewership across platforms.

How does this impact Fox's strategy?

Lachlan Murdoch emphasized Fox's commitment to entertainment programming, highlighting first-look deals and creative partnerships to maintain a profitable cost base.

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