‘Survivor’ Sets Record For Viewership

Sat., July 1, 2000

Hollywood Reporter

The beat goes on for CBS’ “Survivor,” which set another viewership record for CBS on Wednesday and now ranks as the most-watched summer prime-time series in modern TV history.

The fifth episode of the island-castaways adventure series averaged 24 million viewers in the 8-9 p.m. slot, climbing to 26 million in the second half-hour.

According to CBS’ research, “Survivor’s” average of 21 million viewers over its first five episodes makes it the most successful summer series in decades. NBC’s “Seinfeld” averaged 20.1 million viewers during its five-episode run in May-June 1990.

Last summer, ABC’s sleeper hit “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” averaged 14.3 million viewers over its 13-episode run.

With interest in “Survivor” building by the week, CBS has confirmed plans to expand the Aug. 23 finale - which will reveal the last surviving contestant and the winner of the $1 million prize - to a two-hour special.

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