‘Steven Avery: Innocent or Guilty?’ Locks Up ID Record 1.6 Million Viewers
Special set that new cable channel benchmark with three-day delayed viewing
Tony Maglio | February 4, 2016 @ 1:52 PM
Last Updated: February 4, 2016 @ 2:25 PM
Investigation Discovery
Looks like Netflix’s “Making A Murderer” isn’t the only TV show cashing in on the Steven Avery murder trial.
Investigation Discovery’s “Steven Avery: Innocent or Guilty” locked up 1.6 million total viewers with the benefit of three-day delayed viewing, setting a new channel premiere record for a special in the process. The one-off debuted on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 9/8c.
ID nabbed 645,000 viewers 18-49, and 823,000 viewers 25-54 in Nielsen’s Live + 3 Day numbers. The telecast led the cable channel to its best Saturday night ever among total viewers.
The Discovery-owned network ranked No. 7 in total viewers for special’s time slot across all of ad-supported cable, and was second in the 25-54 demo. It fared particularly well among women of that age range.
Overseas, where Discovery does a lot of business, the Avery special was the top original premiere telecast ever on ID UK.
Avery and his nephew Brendan Dassey were found guilty of murdering photographer Teresa Halbach in 2005. The murkiness of the evidence presented at trial were successfully highlighted this past fall on Netflix documentary “Making A Murderer.”
'Making a Murderer': 9 Updates in Steven Avery's Case Since the Premiere (Photos)
Ken Kratz, who prosecuted Steven Avery, sent TheWrap a nine-point list that he said indicated Avery's guilt, including his claim that Avery "targeted" victim Teresa Halbach.
A White House petition calling for Avery's pardon reached 100,000 signatures, the threshold qualifying it for a White House review. However, the possibility of a presidential pardon was quickly shot down, as the president is constitutionally barred from pardoning convicts in state cases.
A 2009 court filing emerged with a bombshell accusation by Avery -- that his brothers Charles and Earl Avery may have killed Halbach.
Avery has retained a new attorney, Kathleen Zellner, who specializes in wrongful convictions. In a statement obtained by TheWrap, Zellner cited "new evidence" in the case and says that she's "confident Mr. Avery’s conviction will be vacated."
Avery filed a new appeal, claiming that a juror tainted his jury by repeatedly claiming that Avery is "fucking guilty." Avery also asserts that he received "inadequate assistance" from his trial and appellate lawyers.
Attorney Len Kachinsky, whose representation of Avery's nephew Brendan Dassey drew heavy criticism from "Making a Murderer" viewers, told TheWrap that he's "not responsible for Dassey going to prison," adding, "You can say I made a mistake, that I should’ve [attended] or I should have rescheduled the interview — that’s valid criticism.”
Dean Strang, one of Avery's defense attorneys, told TheWrap that a "mass" of potential new evidence has emerged since the premiere of "Making a Murderer."
"Making a Murderer" filmmakers Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi appeared on the "Late Show With Stephen Colbert" to assert that Avery is "not guilty," with Demos opining, "I mean there are things that he could be guilty, but is he guilty beyond a reasonable doubt? Nothing I’ve seen, and I’ve seen a lot of stuff, nothing I’ve seen has convinced me of that.”
The "Making a Murderer" filmmakers also said that one of the jurors in the Avery trial has come forward to say they believe he is innocent.
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From new evidence to fresh appeals, where his case stands now
Ken Kratz, who prosecuted Steven Avery, sent TheWrap a nine-point list that he said indicated Avery's guilt, including his claim that Avery "targeted" victim Teresa Halbach.
