April 11, 2012

TBS Claims Victory as Basic Cable's #1 Network with Young Adults (Final Live + 7 Update)

TBS has officially won the first–quarter ratings race as basic cable's #1 network in primetime delivery of adults 18–34 and adults 18–49, according to final Live + 7 data released this week. TBS chalked up extraordinary growth compared to Q1 2011, driven primarily by its telecasts of The Big Bang Theory, which scored victory as the top sitcom for the quarter. In addition, TBS's late–night series CONAN has benefited from the larger lead–in audience, resulting in five consecutive months of growth and a big jump over last quarter.

"We couldn't be more proud of TBS's performance this quarter," said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TBS, TNT and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "The success of The Big Bang Theory has exceeded our wildest expectations. The show has given a boost to TBS's entire lineup, and has also provided a great lead–in from which to launch TBS's new summer series Men at Work and Sullivan & Son."

TBS Q1 2012 Ratings Highlights:

TBS finished Q1 2012 as basic cable's #1 network in primetime among adults 18–34 (673,000) and adults 18–49 (1,233,000).
In achieving its first–place finish, TBS has grown its primetime demo deliveries by leaps and bounds, with adults 18–34 up 28% and adults 18–49 up 34%. Meanwhile, TBS's overall primetime audience has grown by 33% to 2.1 million viewers.
TBS's victory among adults 18–49 unseated USA, which has won the demo in Q1 for the past six years. Among adults 18–34, TBS knocked out MTV, last year's winner for the first quarter.
Providing TBS with a rocket–charged boost ever since it premiered in October, The Big Bang Theory has averaged 3 million viewers in the first quarter, with some episodes climbing to more than 4 million viewers. The series ranks as basic cable's #1 sitcom of the quarter among total viewers, adults 18–34 and adults 18–49.
TBS's Emmy®–nominated late–night series CONAN, hosted by Conan O'Brien, has enjoyed five consecutive months of growth, with a significant jump in ratings over last quarter. In Q1 2012, CONAN has averaged 1.1 million viewers (+25% compared to Q4); 433,000 adults 18–34 (+12%); and 736,000 adults 18–49 (+19%).
CONAN continues to boast the youngest audience in the late–night talk show arena, with a median age of 35. A leader in the realm of social media, Conan O'Brien has amassed 5.3 million followers on Twitter, more than any other late–night talk show host. Meanwhile, Team Coco has garnered more than 1.8 million fans on Facebook.

About TBS
TBS, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., is television's top–rated comedy network and is available in 100 million households. It serves as home to the Emmy®–nominated late–night series CONAN, starring Conan O'Brien; and original primetime comedy series like Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse and the upcoming Men at Work, Sullivan & Son, King of the Nerds and Wedding Band. TBS also features an outstanding slate of contemporary comedies, such as The Big Bang Theory, Family Guy and The Office, as well as blockbuster movies and championship sports. In addition, TBS produces special live comedy events, including the star–studded comedy festival held each year in Chicago.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.