​Though the conversation around broadcast TV is often full of worry and dread, fall TV‘s first full week of ratings has given the broadcast networks a bit of encouragement.

Fox’s “Sleepy Hollow,” the first new major broadcast series to premiere this year, not only proved encouraging to Fox but also gave hope to other broadcasters. The dark, supernatural mystery became Fox’s biggest launch for a drama since “Standoff” in 2006 (and with Live +3 ratings help, since “24” in 2001). According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Sleepy Hollow” was also able to keep most of that audience for its second week, retaining 85% of its viewership.

ABC’s “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” delivered on a heavy outdoor campaign with 12 million viewers for its premiere, with those numbers increasing throughout the week over DVR and a repeat on ABC Thursday. The superhero series dropped 34% in week two, with the rest of ABC’s night dropping in similar numbers after their “S.H.I.E.L.D.” lead in.

CBS relied heavily on returning series to make up their numbers, as “The Big Bang Theory” premiere hit around 20 million, serving as a lead-in to Robin Williams’ return to TV in “The Crazy Ones.” Its Monday comedies and new thriller “Hostages” slipped in ratings, up against Fox’s “Sleepy Hollow” and NBC’s “The Blacklist.”

NBC, though under fire the past few years for ratings slips, debuted James Spader in “The Blacklist” with more than 12 million viewers, its lead-in “The Voice” also returning well on Mondays. Its Sunday Night Football continues strong, but the network’s Thursday night comedy block has yet to pull any big numbers.

Almost all of the broadcasters have been touting their success in time-shifted viewership as well, with Live +3 ratings working in most new series’ favor.

The CW kicks off its premieres this week.

Brief Take: While cord cutting and cable’s ratings are still legitimate viewership worries for broadcasters, it’s also important to note that the negative outlook for this year wasn’t as dismal as expected. New series still have awhile to prove themselves, and each network came out of the first week in fall TV with a reason or two to hold their heads high.

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