‘The Hot Zone’ Is Now Nat Geo’s Most-Watched Scripted Series Yet
For those keeping track, Julianna Margulies-starring miniseries is National Geographic’s seventh scripted one
Jennifer Maas | June 5, 2019 @ 9:00 AM
Last Updated: June 5, 2019 @ 10:00 AM
Nat Geo
“The Hot Zone” is coming in hot for Nat Geo.
The Julianna Margulies-starring miniseries, which aired over three nights (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday) last week, is now National Geographic’s most-watched scripted series of all time, with the previous record holder being “Genius: Einstein.” And for those keeping track, Nat Geo currently has seven scripted series to its name.
“The Hot Zone” averaged a .82 rating among the advertiser-coveted adults 18-49 demographic over its three-night-broadcast window, according to Live+3 data from Nielsen.
The event series comes in just behind “The Story of God With Morgan Freeman,” as the network’s most-watched series of all time and is the second-most-watched scripted series to premiere on ad-supported cable this year to date.
Across 12 broadcasts through the May 29 finale (including premieres and repeats), the series was viewed by 7.5 million people in the U.S.
“The Hot Zone” helped Nat Geo’s overall-primetime viewership shoot up 350% compared to the channel’s average over the previous six weeks. The May 27 series premiere lifted Nat Geo to the No. 5 ad-supported cable network in the key 18-49 demo for the night and No. 2 in overall sets of eyeballs.
Additionally, the average time a viewer spent watching “The Hot Zone” clocked in at 42.7 minutes, with 56% of viewers returning each day to tune in.
“While of course we are thrilled that viewers responded to this series in such a positive way, we also hope that it inspires them to learn more about the current Ebola crisis in Africa,” Carolyn Bernstein, EVP, global scripted content and documentary films for National Geographic, said.
Based on Richard Preston’s best-selling book of the same name, “The Hot Zone” is inspired by the true events surrounding the origins of the Ebola virus and its arrival on U.S. soil in 1989.
Along with Margulies, the series stars Noah Emmerich (“The Americans”), Liam Cunningham (“Game of Thrones”) and Topher Grace (“BlackKKKlansman”).
“The Hot Zone” hails from Fox 21 Television Studios and Scott Free Productions.
Summer TV Premiere Dates: Here's Every New and Returning Show (Photos)
Though summer doesn't officially begin until June 21, Summer TV premieres are just about ready to start airing. We've rounded up the premiere dates for every show returning for a new se...
Hulu, HBO, Netflix, ABC, Getty Images
“iZombie” (The CW), May 2, 8 p.m.
The CW
"Dead to Me" (Netflix), May 3
Netflix
"Tuca & Bertie" (Netflix), May 3
Netflix
"The Spanish Princess" (Starz), May 5, 8 p.m.
Starz
"The Real Housewives of Potomac" (Bravo), May 5, 9 p.m.
Bravo
"When Calls the Heart" (Hallmark), May 6, 8 p.m.
Hallmark
"Chernobyl" (HBO), May 6, 9 p.m.
HBO
"State of the Union" (Sundance), May 6, 10 p.m.
Sundance
"Lucifer" (Netflix), May 8
Netflix
"Paradise Hotel” (Fox), May 9, 8 p.m.
Fox
"Klepper " (Comedy Central), May 9, 10:30 p.m.
Comedy Central
"Easy" (Netflix), May 10
Netflix
"Sneaky Pete" (Amazon Prime Video), May 10
Amazon
"The Society" (Netflix), May 10
Netflix
“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” (ABC), May 10, 8 p.m.
ABC
“What Would You Do?” (ABC), May 10, 9 p.m.
ABC
"Wu-Tang Clan: Of Mics and Men" (Showtime), May 10, 9 p.m.
Showtime
"Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj" (Netflix), May 12
Netflix
"Our Cartoon President" (Showtime), May 12 at 8 p.m.
Showtime
"Beach Hunters" (HGTV), May 12, 9 p.m.
HGTV
“The Bachelorette” (ABC), May 13, 8 p.m.
ABC
"L.A.’s Finest" (Spectrum), May 13, TBD
Spectrum
"Southern Charm" (Bravo), May 15, 8 p.m.
Bravo
"Wahlburgers" (A&E), May 15, 9 p.m.
A&E
"Catch-22" (Hulu), May 17
Hulu
"Fleabag" (Amazon Prime Video), May 17
Amazon
"Nailed It!" (Netflix), May 17
Netflix
“Beat Shazam” (Fox), May 20, 8 p.m.
Fox
"Pawn Stars" (History), May 20, 10 p.m.
History Channel
“Blood & Treasure” (CBS), May 21, 9 p.m.
CBS
"Vida" (Starz), May 23, TBD
Starz
“Elementary” (CBS), May 23, 10 p.m.
CBS
"She’s Gotta Have It" (Netflix), May 24
Netflix
"What/If" (Netflix), May 24
Netflix
"The Hot Zone" (Nat Geo), May 27, 9 p.m.
National Geographic
“America’s Got Talent” (NBC), May 28, 8 p.m.
NBC
"Animal Kingdom" (TNT), May 28, 9 p.m.
TNT
“Songland” (NBC), May 28, 10 p.m.
NBC
"Chrisley Knows Best" (USA), May 28, 10 p.m.
USA
“American Ninja Warrior” (NBC), May 29, 8 p.m.
NBC
“MasterChef” (Fox), May 29, 8 p.m.
Fox
"Property Brothers: Forever Home" (HGTV), May 29, 9 p.m.
HGTV
"Archer: 1999" (FX), May 29, 10 p.m.
FX
“The InBetween” (NBC), May 29, 10 p.m.
NBC
"Lip Sync Battle" (Paramount), May 30, 9 p.m.
Paramount
"When They See Us" (Netflix), May 31
Netflix
"Good Omens" (Amazon Prime Video), May 31
Amazon
"Swamp Thing" (DC Universe), May 31
DC Universe
"Deadwood: The Movie" (HBO), May 31, 8 p.m.
HBO
“Burden of Truth” (The CW), June 2, 8 p.m.
The CW
"Luther" (BBC America), June 2, 8 p.m.
BBC America
"American Princess" (Lifetime), June 2, 9 p.m.
Lifetime
"Fear the Walking Dead" (AMC), June 2, 9 p.m.
AMC
"NOS4A2" (AMC), June 2, 10 p.m.
AMC
"The Weekly" (FX), June 2, 10 p.m.
FX
"Perpetual Grace, LTD" (Epix), June 2, TBD
Epix
"Below Deck Mediterranean" (Bravo), June 3, 9 p.m.
Bravo
“So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox), June 3, 9 p.m.
Fox
"Dance Moms" (Lifetime), June 4, 8 p.m.
Lifetime
"The Handmaid’s Tale" (Hulu), June 5
Hulu
"Grown-ish" (Freeform), June 5, 8 p.m.
Freeform
"Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City" (Netflix), June 7
Netflix
"Designated Survivor" (Netflix), June 7
Netflix
“The Masters of Illusion” (The CW), June 7, 8 p.m.
The CW
“Celebrity Family Feud” (ABC), June 9, 8 p.m.
ABC
"Good Witch" (Hallmark), June 9, 8 p.m.
Hallmark
“The $100,000 Pyramid” (ABC), June 9, 9 p.m.
ABC
"Big Little Lies" (HBO), June 9, 9 p.m.
HBO
"Claws" (TNT), June 9, 9 p.m.
TNT
"Ripley’s Believe It or Not!" (Travel), June 9, 9 p.m.
Getty Images
“To Tell the Truth” (ABC), June 9, 10 p.m.
ABC
"To Tell the Truth" (ABC), June 9, 10 p.m.
ABC
"Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader" (Nickelodeon), June 10, 7 p.m.
Getty Images
“Dateline NBC” (NBC), June 10, 10 p.m.
NBC
"Pose" (FX), June 11, 10 p.m.
FX
“Press Your Luck” (ABC), June 12, 8 p.m.
ABC
"Deal or No Deal" (CNBC), June 12, 9 p.m.
CNBC
"Queen Sugar" (OWN), June 12, 9 p.m.
OWN
“Card Sharks" (ABC), June 12, 9 p.m.
ABC
"Krypton" (Syfy), June 12, 10 p.m.
Syfy
"Younger" (TV Land), June 12, 10 p.m.
TV Land
“Match Game” (ABC), June 12, 10 p.m.
ABC
"Strange Angel" (CBS All Access), June 13
CBS All Access
"Baskets" (FX), June 13, 10 p.m.
FX
"Los Espookys" (HBO), June 14, 11 p.m.
HBO
"Jessica Jones" (Netflix), June 14
Netflix
“Instinct” (CBS), June 16, 9 p.m.
CBS
"City on a Hill" (Showtime), June 16, 9 p.m.
Showtime
"City on a Hill" (Showtime), June 16
Showtime
"Euphoria" (HBO), June 16, 9 p.m.
HBO
“Penn & Teller: Fool Us” (The CW), June 17, 8 p.m.
The CW
“Whose Line Is It Anyway?” (The CW), June 17, 9 p.m.
The CW
“Grand Hotel” (ABC), June 17, 10 p.m.
ABC
"Good Trouble" (Freeform), June 18, 8 p.m.
Freeform
"Drunk History" (Comedy Central), June 18, 10 p.m.
Comedy Central
"The Detour" (TBS), June 18, 10:30 p.m.
TBS
"Yellowstone" (Paramount), June 19, 10 p.m.
Paramount
"Riviera" (Sundance Now), June 20
Sundance Now
“Holey Moley” (ABC), June 20, 8 p.m.
Getty Images
“The Wall” (NBC), June 20, 8 p.m.
NBC
“Spin the Wheel” (Fox), June 20, 9 p.m.
Fox
“Family Food Fight” (ABC), June 20, 9 p.m.
ABC
“Reef Break” (ABC), June 20, 10 p.m.
Getty Images
"Dark" (Netflix), June 21
Netflix
"Andi Mack" (Disney Channel), June 21, 8 p.m.
Disney Channel
"Legion" (FX), June 24 at 10 p.m.
FX
"The Hills: New Beginnings" (MTV), June 24, TBD
MTV
"Big Brother" (CBS), June 25 and 26, 8 p.m.
CBS
"What Just Happened" (Fox), June 30, 9:30 p.m.
Fox
"The Rook" (Starz), June 30
Starz
"The Loudest Voice" (Showtime), June 30, TBD
Showtime
"Young Justice: Outsiders" (DC Universe), July 2
DC Universe
"Stranger Things" (Netflix), July 4
Stranger Things
“Bring the Funny” (NBC), July 9, 10 p.m.
NBC
"Harlots" (Hulu), July 10
Harlots
"Snowfall" (FX), July 10, 10 p.m.
FX
"Siren" (Freeform), July 11, 8 p.m.
Freeform
“Hollywood Game Night” (NBC), July 11, 9 p.m.
NBC
“The Outpost” (The CW), July 11, 9 p.m.
The CW
"Sweetbitter" (Starz), July 14
Starz
"Suits" (USA), July 17, 9 p.m.
USA
"Pearson" (USA) July 17 at 10 p.m.
USA
"Listing Impossible" (CNBC), July 25, 10 p.m.
CNBC
Cash Pad (CNBC) July 25, 9 p.m.
CNBC
"Orange Is the New Black" (Netflix), July 26
Netflix
"The Boys" (Amazon Prime Video), July 26
Amazon Prime Video
"Light as a Feather" (Hulu), July 26
Hulu
"Veronica Mars" (Hulu), July 26
Hulu
"Pennyworth" (Epix), July 28, 9 p.m.
Epix
"Bachelor in Paradise” (ABC), July 29, 8 p.m.
ABC
"Four Weddings and a Funeral" miniseries (Hulu), July 31
MGM
"Preacher" (AMC), August 4, TBD
AMC
"BH90210" (Fox), August 7, 9 p.m.
Fox
"GLOW" (Netflix), August 9
Netflix
"The Terror: Infamy" (AMC), August 12, 9 p.m.
AMC
"Lodge 49" (AMC), August 12, 10 p.m.
AMC
"Power" (Starz), August 25
Starz
"Jay Leno’s Garage" (CNBC), August 28, 10 p.m.
CNBC
