The WIT Analysis: NBC

NEW YORK: Greg Berlanti’s Blindspot, which landed the post-The Voice time slot, has emerged as one of the strongest contenders on the upcoming NBC schedule, according to social-media analysis from The WIT.

“NBC is concentrating most of social media users' attention on its reboots or spin-off of hit series—Heroes Reborn, Coach, Chicago Med,” observes The WIT’s Caroline Servy. “But it is struggling to peak curiosity around its newest projects,” in part because few publicity materials have been released for those three shows in terms of artwork or trailers.

In the two days following NBC's Upfront, Heroes Reborn was the most commented new NBC show on Twitter, generating about 3,000 tweets, followed by Chicago Med with about 2,000.

“Although far from the buzz generated by upcoming projects on other networks, or even by the network's most anticipated projects last year, the social media voice is pointing at Blindspot as the most promising bet on NBC's schedule this fall,” Servy notes.

Distributed by Warner Bros. International Television Distribution, Blindspot is the network's new Monday-night thriller, produced by "super-showrunner" Greg Berlanti, who will oversee six prime-time network shows next season, including the returning The Mysteries of Laura and The Flash, and the highly anticipated Supergirl on CBS. Blindspot’s trailer generated 108,000 views on YouTube from May 10 to May 18, as compared with more than 7 million views for NBC's most anticipated show last year over the same period, Constantine (which the network did not renew for a second season). Blindspot also amassed around 1,000 fans on Facebook and Twitter. “The series still has a long way to go to build momentum, but the first impressions are quite unanimous” and the materials released thus far have been effective in building buzz for the show, Servy says.

"Berlanti's touch, as well as the choice of it girl Jaimie Alexander in the role of a mysterious tattooed girl discovered naked in Times Square, are definitely the show's best assets in terms of anticipation,” Servy continues. “People like the idea of a female Jason Bourne, and are intrigued by the premise of the show."

Also generating interest is the Sony Pictures Television-repped The Player, featuring Wesley Snipes and set in Las Vegas. It is the second most-anticipated and best-rated rookie show of NBC's fall schedule, Servy says. “Once again, figures don't say much yet (78,000 YouTube views, less than 1,000 fans on Facebook/Twitter), but a lot of enthusiasm transpires from [action] fans. Comments on the show's social-media platforms and YouTube focus on Wesley Snipes being ‘awesome,’ ‘underrated’ and ‘missed’. Action lovers are expecting something interesting to come out of Snipes' presence in this good-looking project, although they feel the plot should not be taken too seriously.”

Check out World Screen's guide to the network fall season here.