Ratings for FX's American Horror Story: Hotel have dropped significantly since the October premiere - so what's gone wrong?

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American Horror Story: Hotel debuted strong with its supersize premiere, scoring 5.81 million viewers, the second highest episode viewership in AHS history. But as the weeks have gone one, viewers have fled from the season and the latest episode scored just above 2.5 million viewers.

Here is the ratings progression for Hotel thus far:

Episode 1 - Checking In - 5.81 million viewers
Episode 2 - Chutes and Ladders - 4.01 million viewers
Episode 3 - Mommy - 3.20 million viewers
Episode 4 - Devil's Night - 3.04 million viewers
Episode 5 - Room Service - 2.87 million viewers
Episode 6 - Room 33 - 2.64 million viewers
Episode 7 - Flicker - 2.64 million viewers

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While viewership has stabilized over the past few weeks, it's still an alarming drop from such a high peak earlier in the season. Coven and Freak Show mostly averaged 3-4 million viewers every week, with Freak Show only occasionally dipping below 3 million.

So are people simply watching episodes at a later date or have they simply stopped watching? Hotel has been much more bloody and graphic than the past few seasons so it's possible that sensitive viewers may have been turned off. Also, the sprawling cast and multiple plot lines may have been too much for some to keep up with.

Regardless, FX chose to renew American Horror Story for a sixth season to air next year so fans shouldn't have to worry about cancellation anytime soon. But if ratings continue to drop this season as well as in season 6, there may be cause to start worrying.

American Horror Story: Hotel airs Wednesdays at 10/9c on FX.

Tags: American Horror Story television fx