Ludacris-Hosted ‘Fear Factor’ Hands MTV Its Highest-Rated Series Premiere in 2 Years

Reality competition revival hauls in nearly one million total viewers

Fear Factor
Fear Factor

Move, competition — get out the way. The Ludacris-hosted “Fear Factor” debut handed MTV its highest-rated series premiere in two years among adults 18-34, which is the Viacom cable channel’s target audience.

The revived reality competition earned a 0.83 rating in the main demo, and nearly one million total viewers. The millennials made “Fear Factor” the No. 1 show on cable that night, and aided in giving MTV its top Tuesday in a year and-a-half. Lead-in “The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros” reached a season high of a 0.61, which was up 13 percent from the prior episode.

“Fear Factor’s” 0.83 was 164 percent above MTV’s 10 p.m. Tuesday time slot average, by the way.

Ludacris hosts the new installment, which MTV says has been “custom-created for a generation that is increasingly empowered, while also more anxious than ever.”

Filled with new stunts inspired by urban legends, popular scary movies and viral videos from today’s cultural zeitgeist, “Fear Factor” contestants confront their fears, push beyond their comfort zones and take action against some of their biggest stressors.

Anthony Carbone, Charles Wachter, Kevin Wehrenberg, Rob Smith and Robin Feinberg serve as executive producers for Endemol Shine North America. Ludacris — a.k.a. Christopher Bridges — also serves as executive producer. Nina L. Diaz, Pamela Post and Tim Palazzola are executive producers for MTV.

Comments