The Circus (Showtime): Ratings Recap

Showtime's 'The Circus' is a political docuseries that premiered January 17, 2016 with the initial goal of documenting the 2016 presidential election though that scope broadened in subsequent seasons. It has been a fairly consistent ratings performer for the network, consistently at or above 0.03 in the 18-49 demo and 200,000 viewers which is more than can be said about most of Showtime's scripted originals at the moment. The show peaked in its fourth season (2019) when it averaged a 0.05 rating & nearly 250,000 viewers, but has dipped to 0.02 & ~180,000 viewers in the first half of its current 7th season. The second half of the season is scheduled to air fall 2022. 

The Circus Season 1 Ratings (2016)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Jan. 17, 2016	0.097	0.02
Jan. 24, 2016	0.179	0.04
Jan. 31, 2016	0.158	0.06
Feb. 7, 2016	0.085	0.03
Feb. 14, 2016	0.162	0.05
Feb. 21, 2016	0.198	0.07
Feb. 28, 2016	0.082	0.04
Mar. 6, 2016	0.192	0.05
Mar. 13, 2016	0.219	0.06
Mar. 20, 2016	0.222	0.07
Mar. 27, 2016	0.200	0.08
Apr. 3, 2016	0.205	0.06
Apr. 10, 2016	0.149	0.05
Jul. 10, 2016	0.173	0.03
Jul. 17, 2016	0.144	0.03
Jul. 24, 2016	0.159	0.03
Jul. 31, 2016	0.135	0.04
Sept. 11, 2016	0.116	0.02
Sept. 18, 2016	0.115	0.03
Sept. 25, 2016	0.195	0.03
Oct. 2, 2016	0.193	0.06
Oct. 16, 2016	0.217	0.06
Oct. 23, 2016	0.176	0.06
Oct. 30, 2016	0.181	0.04
Nov. 6, 2016	0.235	0.10
Nov. 13, 2016	0.267	0.08
Average	0.171	0.05

The Circus Season 2 Ratings (2017)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Mar. 19, 2017	0.118	0.04
Mar. 26, 2017	0.123	0.02
Apr. 2, 2017	0.184	0.03
Apr. 9, 2017	0.153	0.02
Apr. 16, 2017	0.135	0.03
Apr. 23, 2017	0.156	0.03
Apr. 30, 2017	0.142	0.04
May 7, 2017	0.130	0.04
Average	0.143	0.03

The Circus Season 3 Ratings (2018)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Apr. 15, 2018	0.191	0.03
Apr. 22, 2018	0.240	0.05
Apr. 29, 2018	0.240	0.05
May 6, 2018	0.189	0.03
May 13, 2018	0.186	0.03
May 20, 2018	0.150	0.03
Sept. 16, 2018	0.267	0.06
Sept. 23, 2018	0.272	0.07
Sept. 30, 2018	0.293	0.06
Oct. 7, 2018	0.263	0.05
Oct. 14, 2018	0.230	0.07
Oct. 21, 2018	0.275	0.06
Oct. 28, 2018	0.238	0.04
Nov. 4, 2018	0.227	0.07
Nov. 11, 2018	0.238	0.05
Average	0.233	0.05

The Circus Season 4 Ratings (2019)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Jan. 27, 2019	0.276	0.07
Feb. 3, 2019	0.223	0.05
Feb. 10, 2019	0.263	0.06
Feb. 17, 2019	0.263	0.04
Feb. 24, 2019	0.180	0.04
Mar. 3, 2019	0.285	0.06
Mar. 10, 2019	0.315	0.05
Mar. 17, 2019	0.331	0.08
Sept. 22, 2019	0.179	0.03
Sept. 29, 2019	0.237	0.04
Oct. 6, 2019	0.224	0.03
Oct. 13, 2019	0.195	0.03
Oct. 20, 2019	0.294	0.05
Oct. 27, 2019	0.182	0.03
Nov. 3, 2019	0.208	0.04
Nov. 10, 2019	0.293	0.05
Average	0.247	0.05

The Circus Season 5 Ratings (2020)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Jan. 26, 2020	0.169	0.01
Feb. 2, 2020	0.117	0.02
Feb. 9, 2020	0.186	0.05
Feb. 16, 2020	0.212	0.03
Feb. 23, 2020	0.168	0.02
Mar. 1, 2020	0.186	0.03
Mar. 8, 2020	0.197	0.02
Mar. 15, 2020	0.145	0.03
Aug. 16, 2020	0.229	0.02
Aug. 23, 2020	0.224	0.02
Aug. 30, 2020	0.204	0.02
Sept. 6, 2020	0.220	0.02
Sept. 13, 2020	0.278	0.03
Sept. 20, 2020	0.213	0.02
Sept. 27, 2020	0.202	0.01
Oct. 4, 2020	0.255	0.04
Oct. 11, 2020	0.281	0.03
Oct. 18, 2020	0.278	0.03
Oct. 25, 2020	0.281	0.04
Nov. 1, 2020	0.287	0.03
Nov. 8, 2020	0.266	0.05
Average	0.219	0.03

The Circus Season 6 Ratings (2021)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Jan. 10, 2021	0.314	0.04
Jan. 17, 2021	0.246	0.03
Jan. 24, 2021	0.305	0.03
Jan. 31, 2021	0.359	0.07
Feb. 7, 2021	0.209	0.03
Feb. 14, 2021	0.261	0.04
Feb. 21, 2021	0.260	0.03
Feb. 28, 2021	0.211	0.02
Sept. 19, 2021	0.182	0.02
Sept. 26, 2021	0.144	0.01
Oct. 3, 2021	0.145	0.01
Oct. 10, 2021	0.214	0.02
Oct. 17, 2021	0.195	0.02
Oct. 24, 2021	0.155	0.01
Oct. 31, 2021	0.157	0.01
Nov. 7, 2021	0.195	0.04
Average	0.222	0.03

The Circus Season 7 Ratings (2022)
Episode Date	Viewers (millions)	18-49 rating
Mar. 6, 2022	0.205	0.02
Mar. 13, 2022	0.231	0.04
Mar. 20, 2022	0.176	0.03
Mar. 27, 2022	0.106	0.01
Apr. 3, 2022	0.156	0.02
Apr. 10, 2022	0.199	0.03
Apr. 17, 2022	0.215	0.02
Apr. 24, 2022	0.164	0.02
Sept. 25, 2022
Oct. 2, 2022
Oct. 9, 2022
Oct. 16, 2022
Oct. 23, 2022
Oct. 30, 2022
Nov. 6, 2022
Nov. 13, 2022
Average	0.182	0.02

Source: Nielsen Media Research