After airing a highly rated primetime edition of “Pandemic: What You Need to Know” after “American Idol” on Monday, March 16, ABC announced the next day that a daytime edition of the series would replace “GMA3: Strahan, Sara & Keke” for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus pandemic. Turns out it was a very smart decision as the new series topped all episodes of “GMA3,” and out-rated lead-out “General Hospital” in viewers and all key sales demos. “Pandemic” also out-rated “The View” in demos, but fell short in Total Viewers.
For the week of March 16-20, 2020, the first full week in which much of the country began shutting down and individual states issuing “Stay at Home” orders, “Pandemic” averaged 2.6 million viewers for the three days in which it aired (Wed, 3/18-Fri, 3/20; 2,639,000 in actuals). Reruns of “GMA3” averaged 2 million viewers on the two days it aired (Mon, 3/16 and Tues, 3/17; 2,042,000 in actuals) before ABC slotted “Pandemic” as a temporary replacement.
In Women 18-34, “Pandemic” averaged 116,000. In Women 18-49, the series averaged 399,000 viewers, while in Women 25-54 it averaged 532,000 viewers. Meanwhile, “GMA3” averaged just 62,000 viewers in Women 18-34; 261,000 viewers in Women 18-49; and 362,000 viewers in Women 25-54 for the first two days of the week. “GMA3” last aired original episodes on Friday, March 13.
For comparison, during the week of March 9-13, 2020, “GMA3” averaged 1.6 million viewers (1,552,000 in actuals). The series also attracted a mere 50,000 viewers in Women 18-34; 206,000 viewers in Women 18-49; and just 269,000 viewers in Women 25-54.
Following the temporary production shutdown of the afternoon chatfest, “GMA3” co-host Michael Strahan is currently working full-time in his role as co-anchor on “Good Morning America” while Sara Haines returned as a co-host on “The View” working in the show’s studio with Sonny Hostin. Whoopi Goldberg is moderating from her home in New Jersey while Meghan McCain is also now working from home following news that she and her husband are expecting. Joy Behar has taken a temporary leave of absence due to coronavirus fears but the comedian did pop in from home recently for one episode via Skype.
In Total Viewers, “The View” averaged 3.1 million viewers (3,128,000 in actuals) for the week of March 16-20, 2020, which was +5% compared to the same week last year. The show attracted an average of 84,000 viewers in Women 18-34; 318,000 viewers in Women 18-49; and 461,000 viewers in Women 25-54.
“General Hospital” averaged 2.5 million viewers (2,471,000 in actuals) for the week. “GH” averaged 78,000 viewers in Women 18-34; 335,000 viewers in Women 18-49; and 479,000 viewers in Women 25-54.
In the rarely reported Male 18+ demographics, “Pandemic” averaged 773,000 viewers, “The View” averaged 757,000 viewers, and “GH” averaged 546,000. “GMA3” averaged 565,000 viewers in the demo for the first two days of the week. The week prior “GMA3” averaged 422,000 viewers in the Male 18+ demo, while “GH” averaged 439,000 and “The View” averaged 643,000.
“Pandemic: What You Need to Know” is anchored by Amy Robach with ABC News’ chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton providing the latest on health and safety guidance. The show addresses widespread issues caused by the global pandemic and offers solutions from those adjusting to a new way of life.