The Question, Sunday 6/30/13: Can Dexter Keep Killing It in the Summer?

The flagship Showtime drama Dexter quietly had a sensational season in fall 2012, growing double-digits year-to-year pretty much from wire to wire. But with its lead-out Homeland skyrocketing even faster, Showtime has elected to separate the two. Homeland now has the fall responsibility, while Dexter moves to the summer for the first time and has to contend with smaller viewing levels and a much more potent competing drama on HBO in True Blood. Can Dexter keep killing it in the summer? That's The Question for Sunday, June 30, 2013.

Dexter Last Season

1.3 (premiere, 9/30/12, +18% y2y) 1.13 (average, +23% y2y) 1.4 (finale, +37% y2y)

Dexter opened up an impressive lead over HBO's Boardwalk Empire in the fall, but Boardwalk is one of that network's weakest Sunday night anchors. True Blood will be a much more formidable opponent, and I do think the direct competition between these networks matters. The fall finale hit a new series high 1.4, and I give Dexter a pretty good shot at another new series high 1.5 (or higher), but I doubt its year-to-year growth is going to be as substantial as last year.

Over/Under: 1.45.

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