It took three seasons, but “Shark Tank” is becoming the kind of phenomenon that TV networks dream about.
The show that lets fledgling entrepreneurs pitch a panel of millionaire investors for start-up capital was the No. 1 show last Friday — for the second week in a row.
Because Friday night traditionally has the fewest number of viewers during the week, networks tend to put their lowest-rated shows there.
But “Shark Tank” — which on paper sounds like it belongs more on a cable business channel than a broadcast network — has defied expectations.
Last Friday, an estimated 5.9 million people watched — not huge by network standards, but for a Friday, it was the biggest thing on TV.
Based on the success of “Shark Tank,” CNBC recently hired a reality-TV exec from MTV to develop similar shows for the business channel in prime time, after the markets close.
The show, adapted from a Canadian show called “Dragons’ Den” by reality TV guru Mark Burnett (“Survivor” and “The Apprentice”), started its fourth season two weeks ago and has not lost a Friday night yet.