The season finale of True Detective: Night Country has proven to be a massive success, drawing in the largest first-night audience of the entire season. The episode, titled “Tracker,” seamlessly fit into CBS’ lineup following its post-Super Bowl premiere.
With a total of 3.2 million cross-platform viewers for the first airing on HBO, two replays later in the night, and streaming on Max, the finale garnered the highest night one tune-in of the six-episode season. This impressive viewership is a significant increase from the previous week’s episode, which accumulated 5 million viewers over three days after being released on Max two days early on Super Bowl weekend.
Moreover, Night Country has now become the most-watched season of True Detective thus far. Since its season premiere on January 14th, the show has averaged 12.7 million viewers per episode, surpassing the 11.9 million average for season one in 2014. It’s worth noting that earlier seasons of True Detective were not as easily accessible for streaming, as they were released before the launch of HBO Max.
The finale’s 3.2 million viewers mark a culmination of a season that saw a steady growth in its audience over the course of six episodes. The finale attracted approximately 57 percent more viewers than the season premiere and was up 55 percent compared to the season three finale in February 2019.
In terms of overall viewership, Night Country’s average of 12.7 million viewers per episode surpasses other popular HBO shows. It outperforms season two of The White Lotus, which had 10.1 million viewers just before its finale, as well as the final season of Succession, which garnered 8.7 million viewers. The record for any HBO series since Game of Thrones ended belongs to The Last of Us, with its first season in 2023 attracting over 30 million viewers per episode across all platforms in the first 90 days.
In other television news from Sunday, CBS’ Tracker drew 6.64 million viewers, building on its lead-in from The Equalizer, which had 6.32 million viewers. However, the season premiere of American Idol on ABC experienced a decline of approximately 16 percent compared to last year’s debut, with 4.45 million viewers. The People’s Choice Awards on NBC garnered 2.91 million viewers (excluding the simulcast on E!), compared to 3.54 million viewers on the network for the previous ceremony in December 2022. Complete broadcast ratings for Sunday will be available later in the week.
The success of True Detective: Night Country’s finale highlights the show’s ability to captivate audiences and build momentum throughout its season. With record-breaking viewership and a dedicated fan base, it’s clear that the series continues to deliver compelling storytelling and engaging characters. As fans eagerly await the next installment of True Detective, the show’s popularity shows no signs of waning.