FX’s ‘The Strain’ Premiere Draws 4.7 Million Viewers In Live +3 Ratings

The July 13 premiere of FX’s new supernatural/horror series The Strain drew 4.7 million viewers on a live +3 basis and is expected to deliver over 10 million viewers when the live +7 numbers are available, according to network officials.

The Guillermo del Toro-produced series about a vampire strain affecting New York City also drew 4.2 million adults 18-49 on a live +3 basis, making it the top ranked series premiere in delivery that audience so far this year, according to network officials.

The initial airing of the July 13 The Strain premiere episode scared up 2.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen.


The network anticipates that with the live +7 numbers the series will rank as the top rated drama series premiere ahead of the network’s The Americans.

“For a show to come out of the gate like this in the most crowded environment in TV history is just amazing,” said John Landgraf, CEO, FX Networks and FX Productions in a statement. “It’s always gratifying when a show comes together from a creative, production and marketing standpoint.”

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.