While "True Blood" bowed to just 1.4 million total viewers for its initial run, the overall audience tally had grown to 5.4 million once several weeks' data measuring other viewing options had trickled in. HBO renewed the show for a second season.

As audiences increasingly watch original series through encore runs, DVRs and video-on-demand, the lesson is to not judge a show by its overnight numbers. Wait at least a week or two.

It's a logic proliferating among cable networks on the basic and premium side of the spectrum. Perceptions, they say, aren't in sync with reality.