The Master’s presence has been felt, and I’m not talking about Guillermo del Toro. The FX vampire thriller The Strain from del Toro and Chuck Hogan has been a late summer sensation for the cable network and since success breeds thirst for more, you can count on The Strain returning to your favorite viewing device in 2015.
Yesterday FX formally renewed The Strain for Season 2 by ordering up an additional 13 episodes. The renewal came in after FX had aired six of the 13 total episodes for show’s inaugural season that is still ongoing.
FX rolled the dice with The Strain by scheduling it on Sunday evening, a night they’ve never put an original series before and one that extremely crowded with popular viewing alternatives. The Strain not only held its own in the 10/9c time slot on Sunday evenings, it became the highest rated new cable series on any network in 2014 with a revised raised viewership for the series premiere of 12.7 million.
The Strain has averaged 11 million viewers and a 5.2 rating in the 18-49 demo including broadcast, VOD and online streaming at FXNOW on a weekly basis i.e. those who watch the show within a given seven-day period. On a Live+7 basis, The Strain still nabs 4.5 million viewers and a 2.6 demo rating. FX has been deliberate in their ratings reports to ensure they cover viewing habits beyond the traditional live Nielsen ratings.
“I am thrilled! Another season to spread the virus!” said del Toro in The Strain renewal announcement. “Working with Carlton [Cuse], Chuck and FX has been immensely rewarding and we have such sights to unveil in the upcoming episodes — the blood hits the fan on this one, mankind becomes an endangered species.”
“It’s been immensely satisfying over the last year-and-a-half to work with the incredible team at FX, Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan to bring The Strain to life,” added producer Carlton Cuse. “I am grateful for all the blood, sweat and tears (but mostly blood) given to the project by all involved, and I could not be more excited to continue telling this epic story.”
Episode 7 of The Strain, ‘For Services Rendered,’ airs this upcoming Sunday on FX.
