‘Flip or Flop': Here’s How HGTV Hit Has Fared in TV Ratings Since Stars’ Breakup

“Flip or Flop” is anything but a TV ratings flop for HGTV — Tarek and Christina El Moussa provide the popular Home and Garden cable channel with its No. 2 primetime series. That’s now all in jeopardy, following the marital breakup of the series’ stars.

The El Moussas announced their separation to the world on December 12.

The first original episode since that news broke was “Narrow Margin Flip,” which received 1.647 million total viewers on Dec. 15. On Dec. 22, “Fast Money Flip” settled for 1.580 million. The proximity to the holidays could explain the 4.1 percent decline for that episode, however. (All numbers in this story are Nielsen’s Live + Same Day, so they do not include delayed viewing.)

Also Read: 'Flip or Flop' Divorce Won't Change Our Schedule, HGTV Says

The “Beached Bungalow” episode scored 2.055 million viewers on Jan. 5. That’s a nice 30.1 percent leap from the down mid-month episode. Happy New Year, El Moussas — you know, except for that whole divorce thing, papers for which Tarek filed on Monday.

So are those up or down from the previous eps? Well, Dec. 1’s 30 minutes landed 1.740 million total viewers. The following week slipped to 1.641 million. Which makes for a not-entirely-certain conclusion: Much like the El Moussas’ marriage, the show’s numbers have had their ups and downs. But the strong showing for the Jan. 5 episode suggests that downsides might ultimately have upsides for the divorce-bound couple.

Also Read: 'Flip or Flop' Star's 'Inappropriate Texting' Might Have Led to Gun Incident (Report)

The next original episode of “Flip or Flop,” titled “Doll House Flip,” airs Thursday night at 9/8c on HGTV.

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'Flip or Flop' Divorce Won't Change Our Schedule, HGTV Says

'Flip or Flop' Star Tarek El Moussa Files for Divorce From Wife Christina

'Flip or Flop' Star's 'Inappropriate Texting' Might Have Led to Gun Incident (Report)