In January, three Fox shows achieved significant cross-platform success, driven by strategic scheduling around NFL broadcasts. The series include “Best Medicine,” “Fear Factor: House of Fear,” and “Memory of a Killer,” each surpassing 11.6 million viewers across multiple platforms.
Key Highlights of the Premieres
- Best Medicine: Premiered on January 4, garnering 12 million viewers in total. It is based on the British series “Doc Martin.”
- Fear Factor: House of Fear: Launched on January 11 after a wild card playoff game, reaching 11.6 million viewers. It is hosted by Johnny Knoxville.
- Memory of a Killer: Starring Patrick Dempsey, it debuted on January 25, growing to 11.6 million viewers after its premiere.
Individual Show Performance
“Best Medicine” led the trio with a total viewership of 12 million, although it initially attracted 3.69 million viewers during its premiere. The show retained nearly 90 percent of its audience with subsequent episodes averaging 3.3 million same-day viewers.
“Fear Factor: House of Fear” experienced a promising start with 6.35 million viewers on its premiere night. The growth to 11.6 million viewers reflects a strong interest in this contemporary version of the reality classic. However, its following episodes saw a decline, averaging under 1.5 million viewers.
“Memory of a Killer” opened to 7.39 million viewers, marking a 57 percent increase in total viewership within eight days. The series performed competitively throughout its early episodes, closely matching the viewership of other Fox dramas.
Viewership Metrics and Trends
The three premieres combined attracted an impressive 3.5 billion minutes of viewing time throughout January. Non-sports programming on Fox Entertainment reached 9.2 billion minutes, reflecting a 21 percent increase from January 2025.
This surge in viewership illustrates Fox’s effective strategy in leveraging NFL games to promote new content, resulting in a notable rise in overall engagement with their programming.
