Outlander Season 4, Episode 3 ratings mixed: Does it really matter?

The live + Same Day ratings for Outlander Season 4, Episode 3 are in. It’s a mix bag this week, but does it really matter for the future of the show?

Outlander Season 4, Episode 3 ratings are a mixed bag. This is only looking at the Live + Same Day ratings according to the Nielsen ratings, which means I’m not taking into account STARZ subscribers, delayed viewing, and any international views. And this is where a lot of the questions about whether they matter lie.

According to TV Series Finale, the key demo was up by 7.69% from the previous week to 0.14 but the total audience was down by 1.03% to 0.861 million. This sounds low, especially considering the ratings during Outlander Season 3 averaged 0.32 in the demo and 1.512 million overall.

And while the Live + Same Day ratings are down, it doesn’t sound like the show has lost traction when it comes to fans. In fact, more and more people are finding the show thanks to more people talking about it. Groups continually get new members and not all have read the books.

More from Outlander News

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• Did Bree and Lord John Grey marry in Outlander?

Considering the way STARZ is set up, too, it may not matter that the ratings are down. Who’s to say that the people who haven’t returned to watch live this year aren’t just watching through STARZ? Season 3 saw an increase in viewers from the second season, which isn’t normal.

Those new viewers were likely people who (like me, I’ll add) had only started watching the first two seasons during Seasons 2-3 Droughtlander. Many certainly weren’t book-first fans unlike previous years, so were likely giving the show a chance before deciding what to do for the fourth season. After liking it so much, there’s a high chance that people have bought the STARZ subscription to watch STARZ at midnight when it drops.

Then it’s worth considering that STARZ has renewed Outlander for the fifth and sixth season already. There’s no need to worry about the future for another few years, considering it’s likely going to be 2021 by the time Season 6 airs at the earliest!

So, no, the Outlander Season 4, Episode 3 Live + Same Day ratings don’t have the same effect that they will for primetime shows. STARZ gets money through other methods (subscriptions, international deals, etc.) so doesn’t need the higher viewing figures that primetime shows do. There’s no need to worry.

Do you keep track of the Outlander Season 4 Live + Same Day ratings? What do you make of the current ratings? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander airs Sundays at 8/7c on STARZ.