NBC's 'The Traitors: New Blood' Hits 22M Viewers as Episode 5 Ends on Cliffhanger

Key points

• The Traitors: New Blood added 7 million new viewers in two weeks, a 45% increase in cross-platform reach.
• 65% of the multi-platform audience was new to the The Traitors franchise.
• Episode 5 aired on October 8, featuring a banishment vote that eliminated Faithful Sherry Kuehl.
• Jay Vinnedge continued to suspect Traitor Katie Fites, but his credibility was challenged by other players.
• The episode ended with a cliffhanger as the Traitors committed a murder in plain sight using cursed apples.
• 16 players remain in the game, with the next episode airing on October 15.

Background

The Traitors: New Blood is the first all-civilian version of the US iteration of the show, which previously featured celebrity casts. The UK format, which inspired the US version, has historically used civilian casts, and the UK recently launched a celebrity version of its own. The show is produced by Studio Lambert and distributed by All3Media International.

How outlets are covering it

Deadline emphasizes the strong viewership numbers and the success of the all-civilian format in attracting new audiences. TODAY.com and Bergen Record focus on the dramatic events of Episode 5, highlighting the contentious Round Table and the cliffhanger ending. All sources agree on the key facts regarding the banishment and the murder in plain sight, but they differ in their emphasis, with Deadline focusing on the business side and the others on the narrative drama.

Why it matters

The strong viewership numbers for The Traitors: New Blood indicate that NBCUniversal's strategy to expand the franchise with an all-civilian cast is working, attracting new audiences and increasing cross-platform reach. The show's success on both linear broadcast and Peacock streaming suggests that it is appealing to a broad audience, which is important for NBCUniversal's overall strategy. The dramatic events of Episode 5, including the contentious Round Table and the cliffhanger ending, are likely to keep viewers engaged and tuned in for the next episode.

What to watch

Episode 6 of The Traitors: New Blood, titled 'A Murder of Necessity,' will air on October 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and stream the next day on Peacock. The episode will reveal the identity of the victim of the murder in plain sight from Episode 5.