‘X-Files’ Debut Abducts More than 20 Million Viewers With Delayed Viewing

Add another 1.1 million audience members from Hulu and the Fox Now app

THE X-FILES: L-R: Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. The next mind-bending chapter of THE X-FILES debuts with a special two-night event beginning Sunday, Jan. 24 (10:00-11:00 PM ET/7:00-8:00 PM PT), following the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME, and continuing with its time period premiere on Monday, Jan. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The thrilling, six-episode event series, helmed by creator/executive producer Chris Carter and starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents FOX MULDER and DANA SCULLY, marks the momentous return of the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe-winning pop culture phenomenon, which remains one of the longest-running sci-fi series in network television history. ©2015 Fox Broadcasting Co. Cr: Ed Araquel/FOX

Tony Maglio

January 29, 2016 @ 10:09 AM

The truth is out there, and so are tens of millions of viewers.

Fox’s “X-Files” premiere was watched by 20.3 million people, when counting three-day delayed viewing. That grows even higher — to 21.4 million viewers — when including Hulu and the Fox Now app.

In the key 18-49 demographic, Sunday’s premiere rose 28 percent to an eventual 7.8 rating/24 share.

The “X-Files” landed 13.5 million total viewers on the actual evening of its premiere, when it scored a 5.1 rating. The linear jump from 13.5 million viewers to 20.3 million reflects growth of 50 percent.

The Dana Walden and Gary Newman-run broadcast network has publicly sworn off Nielsen’s Live + Same Day ratings. Aside from event programming, Fox only reports Live + 3 Day rating numbers.

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