Two weeks ago The CW network preniered The Flash and a true apple to apples comparison was created. These two shows, Arrow and The Flash, have so much in common that the comparisons were inevitable.
Both shows appear on the same network in the same timeslot. They both are based on DC comic properties and feature Superhero characters. Lastly, both shows are aime at, at marketed to, a younger demographic. With these two shows sharing in so many traits, why is The Flash such a ratings success while Arrow continues to dwell in the cellar of ratings, losing more and more viewers?
Arrow debuted at a 1.3 rating, with 4.17 mil viewers, and then steadily, with a few bumps along the way, shed viewers and never appraoched the 4 mil viewer mark again. This week arrow, again, finished lower than the previous week and failed to reach the 1.0 mark, only getting a lowly .8 rating.
The Flash debuted at a 1.9 rating with 4.83 mil viewers. this was a huge ratings success and accomplished something that Arrow has never done. The Flash bested both Fox and ABC in its time slot for the night.
In its second week, the Flash duplicated this feat and only had a marginal loss in ratings (1.7) while staying above the 4 mil viewer mark, again accomplishing something that arrow had never acchieved,
The PTB over at The CW, now know that their shows can achieve the same ratings, or higher, as the older networks. They know that they don't have to settle for the .8's, .7's and the, possibly soon, .6 eatings that Arrow seems to be charging toward and think that it is a good result. They are now aware of how absilutely mediocre and often times, poorly Arrow has performed, despite the small but vocal fanbase, How long will it be before the PTB decide that the .8 rating, and lower, along with the 2.2 mil viewers, is just not enough and put the wounded animal, that is Arrow, down?