With the above, an average viewer can watch free broadcast content with high quality picture and still potentially save money compared to average pay-TV subscription service.
With eight series between them (both Berlanti and Rhimes have more than one), the cadre of ABC show-runners--someone that serves as both a writer and executive producer on a show--rounded out the most recent broadcast season with average audiences between 7.2 million and 17.3 million, according to Nielsen Media Research.
The show was gifted a second season after finishing its first with only 5.5 million viewers on average, ranking a dismal 119th among all of prime time's broadcast fare, according to Nielsen Media Research.