Mayans M.C. appears to be a hit for FX, and it didn't take long for the Sons of Anarchy spinoff to overtake the original show in the ratings. Part of this, of course, is due to the already existing fanbase eager for more motorcycle club-based stories. But the new spinoff has also had other ways of beating out the ratings of SOA's early episodes. Specifically, the show is raking in lots of viewership via delayed viewing, and has boosted its Hispanic audience by a wide margin with this new adventure.
While the live+same day ratings for Mayans M.C. and Sons of Anarchy's premiere episodes were about equal, the live+3 day viewing numbers is what pulled Mayans ahead for the record-breaking premiere. The news that more folks are tuning in to Mayans in delayed viewing than they did Sons of Anarchy is unsurprising, given the popularity of DVR has skyrocketed in the decade since the original series' premiere. The 3-day numbers gave Mayans a 46% boost over in the adults 18-49 demo, and a whopping 64% boost in overall viewership successfully pushing it ahead of Sons of Anarchy.
Part of this boost in viewership is also due to a largely Hispanic demographic tuning into Mayans M.C. Deadline reports 19% of the audience for the premiere was Hispanic, and that the statistic was the highest for Hispanic representation for an FX series premiere. Part of the large viewership is likely tied to the show's predominantly Hispanic cast, as well as co-creator Kurt Sutter and Elgin James' focus on wanting to tell a story that touches on Hispanic culture as well as biker culture. In short, this show was never going to be a series where Jax Teller was suddenly back from the dead, for reasons even beyond the fact that Sutter wants to protect the original show's legacy.
Both of these factors are a large reason why Mayans M.C. is beating out Sons of Anarchy in the ratings, although as mentioned, it may not be the only factor. Mayans has the advantage of starting with the SOA legacy and fanbase. And while Kurt Sutter and crew have stated they're not interested in making this a sequel to the original series, the show has already shown quite a few nods to long-time fans. This is especially true with the re-emergence of some classic characters, some of whom may have a larger presence in Mayans as the series continues.
Mayans M.C. airs new episodes on FX Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET. Catch up with the series before the next episode, or head on over to our fall premiere guide and take a look at what other shows are premiering and returning to television over the next few months.
