The WIT Insight: FOX

NEW YORK: Gotham, one of several superhero-themed shows due to premiere in the 2014-15 season, led social-media buzz for FOX following the announcement of the broadcaster’s fall schedule, according to analysis from media research company The WIT.

The Warner Bros. Television production is being billed as an origin story of several DC Comics super-villains and vigilantes, with Ben McKenzie as Detective James Gordon, tasked with investigating the murder of the parents of Bruce Wayne and forging a friendship with the young boy in the process. The series was not only FOX’s buzziest, The WIT reports—it dominated social-media chatter during the Upfronts week among all of the new 2014/2015 shows. As of May 20, it notched up some 311,000 likes on Facebook, has secured more than 21,000 followers on Twitter, with about 18,000 comments posted on the day the trailer was released. As of today, the trailer on YouTube has been seen around 7.3 million times, on par with NBC’s Constantine, which is also sold by Warner Bros. International Television Distribution.

The WIT’s Caroline Servy points to “spectacular” social-media engagement. “Curiosity and excitement is pervasive among fans that wonder how these [legendary DC Comics characters] will be treated, as the series will tell the origins of Batman but also of his super-villains (Catwoman, Penguin…). Will Batman [make an appearance], and when? However, the main discussion topic so far (especially among the many disappointed fans of Almost Human or Human Target) is the risk of cancellation by FOX after one season.”

Second place on The WIT’s social-media buzz ranking for FOX is in flux with three series all generating similar interest levels. Among them is the midseason replacement Hieroglyph, which has about 24,000 Facebook likes, despite a low profile on Twitter and YouTube. “The first reactions to the trailer are mixed and passionate,” says Servy. “On the positive side are the lovers of the Game of Thrones ‘sexy’ vibe, while fans of Ancient Egypt are disappointed to hear English accents and see an all-Caucasian cast in Africa.”

Also generating buzz is Gracepoint, Shine America’s adaptation of Broadchurch launching this fall with a cast that includes David Tennant and Anna Gunn. The show is FOX’s second highest-viewed trailer with about 234,000 views. It has generated about 15,000 likes on Facebook and some 3,000 followers on Twitter.

“Conversations in social media revolve around the original format, the unanimous satisfaction to see David Tennant star again, curiosity around his American accent, and FOX’s ability to legitimate a U.S. remake for an already excellent English-speaking drama,” Servy notes.

Another adaptation is creating buzz for FOX: Utopia, a reality show from Talpa Media. It is the fourth most anticipated show for FOX, according to The WIT’s analysis, with about 185,000 video views as of yesterday and some 13,000 Facebook likes. However, Servy adds, “The general feeling so far is that people are not too impressed by the trailer, still a bit skeptical on the ‘raw authenticity’ of the concept, but will probably sample the show.”

For more on the upcoming U.S. fall season, check out our network-by-network and studio-by-studio recap here.