The Good Wife came to an end on CBS back in May 2016, but fans didn't have to go too long without seeing at least some of the most unforgettable characters from the seven seasons of the series back on the small screen. The Good Fight spinoff premiered on February 19, and fans got their first look at the new show. The preliminary numbers are in, and we know just how many people tuned in to watch The Good Wife series premiere. As it turns out, the numbers weren't too shabby.
In the Live + same day ratings for Sunday, February 19, The Good Fight attracted 7.16 million viewers and scored a 0.7 in the valuable 18 - 49 age demographic. The premiere came in third in the ratings in the 8 p.m. time slot, falling behind The Simpsons on Fox with a 1.1 and an airing of Tangled on ABC with 1.0. That said, The Good Fight was by far the winner in viewership in the 8 p.m. hour, according to TV By The Numbers, with The Simpsons only pulling in 2.46 million and Tangled only drawing 3.76 million.
All things considered, the series premiere was a modest success for CBS in primetime, but it could be a huge winner for CBS All Access. The Good Fight will exclusively air its subsequent episodes on the subscription streaming service rather than in a CBS primetime slot. Even a fraction of the 7.16 million and 0.7 demographic could be pretty phenomenal for CBS All Access. It should also be noted that both the viewership and 18 - 49 demo rating could jump over the next few days as viewers catch up on the episode via DVR or streaming.
Of course, the audience that follows The Good Fight from CBS to CBS All Access will undoubtedly be much smaller than 7.16 million viewers. Even folks who liked what they saw in the series premiere might not be inclined to shell out $5.99 each month just to see what happens next. Still, the solid first episode combined with the fanbase of The Good Wife might attract a slew of new subscribers to the streaming service.
The Good Fight picks up after the finale of The Good Wife, and it will follow the legal struggles of popular Good Wife character Diane Lockhart in the wake of a financial scandal that cost her her savings. The cast includes the unforgettable Christine Baranski, Game of Thrones alum Rose Leslie, and Good Wife veterans Cush Jumbo and Sarah Steele. We'll have to wait and see if viewers are willing to follow this cast from the small screen to streaming.
As it happens, The Good Fight is only one of the high-profile originals heading to CBS All Access. The streaming service will also debut a digital edition of Big Brother and the latest installment in the Star Trek TV franchise. You can catch new episodes of The Good Fight on Sundays on CBS All Access. Be sure to take a look at our midseason premiere schedule to see your other TV options.
