Dragon Ball Super: TV Ratings Discussion Thread

[Lord Beerus]

The only thing I'm curious about Super tv ratings is to see if they will improve, once we start to get new content.
Fans are eager for that.

I think the ratings will certainly jump by the time the Universe 6 arc begins. But it won't be anything huge.

[Chuquita]

I hope enough tv viewers stick around for Uni 6. It'd be unfortunate to have that arc jeopardized because Toei decided to do tv versions of BOG and F first.

[Analytical Delusion]

I hope enough tv viewers stick around for Uni 6. It'd be unfortunate to have that arc jeopardized because Toei decided to do tv versions of BOG and F first.

Well it looks like the BoG arc will last around 12 episodes. Was the "100" episodes claim awhile ago from a legitimate source? If not, and if all three arcs are approximately the same length, maybe Super can survive ratings for ~35-40 episodes.

[TripleRach]

Well it looks like the BoG arc will last around 12 episodes. Was the "100" episodes claim awhile ago from a legitimate source? If not, and if all three arcs are approximately the same length, maybe Super can survive ratings for ~35-40 episodes.

The "100 episodes" listing appeared on Toei Europe's site, which is definitely a legitimate source. But they eventually removed it, so we don't know whether it was an error or something they just weren't supposed to reveal. Personally, I just assumed it was a placeholder estimate.

Super will most likely last for at least one year (about 50 episodes) at a bare minimum, and beyond that probably depends on its success within that first year. Kai 1.0 managed to last two years, and Toriko for three years, so I think it's pretty likely we could get two years unless it does extraordinarily bad.

[precita]

I think TOEI will know it would be pretty embarrassing to bring Dragonball back for a new series after 18 years and have it end earlier than GT did or not make past 64 episodes. It'll look like another failure series.

[Bullza]

I didn't think GT was supposed to be a failure series. I thought the show was originally supposed to be about 40 episodes and then they did another 24 or so just promote the Dragon Ball GT Final Bout video game.

[Herms]

I didn't think GT was supposed to be a failure series. I thought the show was originally supposed to be about 40 episodes and then they did another 24 or so just promote the Dragon Ball GT Final Bout video game.

That's a common rumor, but it's unsupported by any facts, as far as I know. It's just a rumor people say. According to the Perfect Files, when Super Saiyan 4 Goku was introduced, plans were already formed to introduce SS4 Vegeta and Gogeta. Episode 40 was when original series planner Aya Matsui left, but that was for maternity leave.

I also find the idea of producing 24 episodes to promote a game questionable. It seems nonsensical to me, but I'm no business expert.

[Doctor.]

I didn't think GT was supposed to be a failure series. I thought the show was originally supposed to be about 40 episodes and then they did another 24 or so just promote the Dragon Ball GT Final Bout video game.

That's a common rumor, but it's unsupported by any facts, as far as I know. It's just a rumor people say. According to the Perfect Files, when Super Saiyan 4 Goku was introduced, plans were already formed to introduce SS4 Vegeta and Gogeta. Episode 40 was when original series planner Aya Matsui left, but that was for maternity leave.

I also find the idea of producing 24 episodes to promote a game questionable. It seems nonsensical to me, but I'm no business expert.

Weren't there talks of a Super Saiyan 5 in some of the guidebooks, too (and in the series as well if I recall correctly)? It seems like they had planned something like that.

[Analytical Delusion]

Well it looks like the BoG arc will last around 12 episodes. Was the "100" episodes claim awhile ago from a legitimate source? If not, and if all three arcs are approximately the same length, maybe Super can survive ratings for ~35-40 episodes.

The "100 episodes" listing appeared on Toei Europe's site, which is definitely a legitimate source. But they eventually removed it, so we don't know whether it was an error or something they just weren't supposed to reveal. Personally, I just assumed it was a placeholder estimate.

Super will most likely last for at least one year (about 50 episodes) at a bare minimum, and beyond that probably depends on its success within that first year. Kai 1.0 managed to last two years, and Toriko for three years, so I think it's pretty likely we could get two years unless it does extraordinarily bad.

Ah okay thanks for the info.

I wonder then, if these three arcs are going to be significantly longer? Maybe RoF and Universe 6 will both span more episodes, or perhaps just the latter will. I guess it could also be possible that maybe only the first three arcs were revealed?

Looking at the Kai episode list, the four main sagas spanned 16, 38, 44, 61 (albeit with more filler left in for Buu) episodes. The pacing in Super has been a bit different (maybe closer to Z or Kai 2014 from what I can tell), but there's no reason the remaining arcs have to be as short as the BoG retelling appears that it will be.

[Blade]

Weren't there talks of a Super Saiyan 5 in some of the guidebooks, too (and in the series as well if I recall correctly)? It seems like they had planned something like that.

Not really. There's a throwaway comment that Bulma makes whilst she's working with Vegeta on the Blutz Wave generator, along the lines of 'why stop at Super Saiyan 4? Who knows, maybe you could go beyond to a Super Saiyan 5!', but the point of the dialogue was more about speculating about Vegeta's potential than confirming of the existence of the form.

[Araki]

Weekly ratings, episode 8:

Sazae 13.0
Maruko-chan 8.9
Doraemon 8.8
Crayon Shin-chan 8.0
One Piece 7.5
Detective Conan 6.5
Dragon Ball Super 6.2
Yokai Watch 4.5
Pokemon XY 4.2
Go! Pretty Cure 4.2

Nothing much different from last week, Sazae and Maruko are back to normal and everything else rose just a little bit, including Super.

[Doctor.]

Looks like Super is alternating between 6th and 7th now, that's probably where it will always stay, at least until the new arc starts. How did Kai hold up, on average?

[precita]

Is it normal to see Dragonball only do slightly better than kids anime like Pokemon and Yokai Watch?

[Doctor.]

Is it normal to see Dragonball only do slightly better than kids anime like Pokemon and Yokai Watch?

Considering they're both vastly more famous and popular franchises (at least in Japan), I say it's actually surprising.

[LightBing]

Is it normal to see Dragonball only do slightly better than kids anime like Pokemon and Yokai Watch?

Pokemon is a pretty good show, remove Team Rocket and it gets vastly superior to what Super has shown so far.Still, I'm with Doctor, it's surprising. Since I assume older fans are more likely to dvr the show.

[Chuquita]

I wonder if there was ever any official reason given for why Pokémon didn't go the Yugioh route and refresh the entire human cast with each set of games. I can't imagine Satoshi and Team Rocket are still around for any other reason than their plot-connection to Pikachu (who's probably achieved perma-mascot status and not allowed to be dumped from the cast). I imagine it'd be difficult to dump Satoshi and Team Rocket while keeping Pikachu around without the plot coming out unbelievable; like Satoshi giving Pikachu to a new hero and Team Rocket just retiring to go do something else.

As far as I know Yokai Watch is the "current hotness" for younger viewers in Japan, so Super beating it is pretty cool (especially considering we aren't at new material yet).

[irreality]

Looks like Super is alternating between 6th and 7th now, that's probably where it will always stay, at least until the new arc starts. How did Kai hold up, on average?

Well, Super really hasn't changed in standings at all -- it really depends on what shows are on that week, since Detective Conan, Doraemon and Crayon Shin Chan are not on every week. So some weeks we are #4 and some we are #7 and all the rankings in between.

I think Kai sometimes was below Yokai Watch? But numbers were not as close to Detective Conan. But I'd have to look at the data again.

[LightBing]

I wonder if there was ever any official reason given for why Pokémon didn't go the Yugioh route and refresh the entire human cast with each set of games. I can't imagine Satoshi and Team Rocket are still around for any other reason than their plot-connection to Pikachu (who's probably achieved perma-mascot status and not allowed to be dumped from the cast). I imagine it'd be difficult to dump Satoshi and Team Rocket while keeping Pikachu around without the plot coming out unbelievable; like Satoshi giving Pikachu to a new hero and Team Rocket just retiring to go do something else.

As far as I know Yokai Watch is the "current hotness" for younger viewers in Japan, so Super beating it is pretty cool (especially considering we aren't at new material yet).

They did change his traveling companions and Pokemons, bar Pikachu. And for some time (last season?) transformed Team Rocket into competent villains, but returned to the status quo. It's silly, Pokemon Origins is awesome. They could make series based on the games with great success. It might be fear of the reaction of the fans, maybe a partially a cultural thing. Super has also been very conservative so far, even with the golden opportunity to improve and expand good material. I guess, "if it's not broken don't fix it", it's their motto. Bah..., just got reminded of Team Rocket giving their little speech every fricking episode!

[Chuquita]

I wonder if there was ever any official reason given for why Pokémon didn't go the Yugioh route and refresh the entire human cast with each set of games. I can't imagine Satoshi and Team Rocket are still around for any other reason than their plot-connection to Pikachu (who's probably achieved perma-mascot status and not allowed to be dumped from the cast). I imagine it'd be difficult to dump Satoshi and Team Rocket while keeping Pikachu around without the plot coming out unbelievable; like Satoshi giving Pikachu to a new hero and Team Rocket just retiring to go do something else.

As far as I know Yokai Watch is the "current hotness" for younger viewers in Japan, so Super beating it is pretty cool (especially considering we aren't at new material yet).

They did change his traveling companions and Pokemons, bar Pikachu. And for some time (last season?) transformed Team Rocket into competent villains, but returned to the status quo. It's silly, Pokemon Origins is awesome. They could make series based on the games with great success. It might be fear of the reaction of the fans, maybe a partially a cultural thing. Super has also been very conservative so far, even with the golden opportunity to improve and expand good material. I guess, "if it's not broken don't fix it", it's their motto. Bah..., just got reminded of Team Rocket giving their little speech every fricking episode!

I dropped the Pokémon TV series during the early Johto episodes (coincidentally because of similar reasons to my (complaints?) about them not replacing Satoshi and Team Rocket; I dropped it because I felt the plot wasn't going anywhere and they were never going to conclude the character arcs from Kanto and Orange Islands). I've been vaguely aware of them swapping out most of the pokémon and the rest of the cast (I also know that Takeshi returned, briefly, but I don't think Kasumi ever became a regular again. Worked out for the best though that I stopped when I did, child!me's shipper heart would've been broken; I used to root for Satoshi/Kasumi.). Competent Team Rocket sounds intriguing, I do wonder how that looks. I did watch that special a while back that starred Red and Green in place of Satoshi and Shigeru; Red's story was interesting.

I feel like I won't be able to accurately judge Super's risk-taking/lack-of-risk-taking until we hit the Uni 6 arc; the reBOG and reF arcs feel like we're just stalling for time because the plot and character designs for Uni 6 aren't fully finished yet and/or making an ease-of-entry for people who don't wanna have to buy the movies to know what's going on.

[garfield15]

I guess it's gonna stay in that 6.0-6.x range for a while, maybe even all series.

Did we ever figure out what happened last week?