August 21, 2012

TNT Original Series Dominate Summer Ratings Race, With Basic Cable's Top 5 Scripted Series

TNT Claims the Top 3 New Series on All Television,Third Consecutive Summer with Cable's #1 New Series And All of Basic Cable's Top 15 Scripted Series Telecasts

TNT Also Scores Primetime Growth and Strength in Time–Shifted Viewing, Led by The Closer Finale's 10.7 Million Viewers in Live + 3

As the summer ratings race reaches the home stretch, TNT is on track to score several remarkable competitive victories, securing its position as home to basic cable's top original dramas. Leading the pack are returning hits like The Closer and Rizzoli & Islesand breakout newcomers like Major Crimes, Perception and Dallas, which together rank as basic cable's Top 5 scripted series for the summer–to–date. In addition, TNT's epic sci–fi drama Falling Skies reigns as basic cable's #1 summer drama with adults 18–49 and adults 25–54.

Overall, TNT's summer originals account for six of basic cable's Top 10 scripted series among total viewers, four of the Top 10 with adults 25–54 and three of the Top 10 with adults 18–49.

Basic cable's Top 5 scripted series this summer among total viewers:
#1. The Closer (8.0 million viewers)
#2. Rizzoli & Isles(7.8 million viewers)
#3. Major Crimes (7.2 million viewers)
#4. Perception (6.1 million viewers)
#5. Dallas (5.9 million viewers)

Basic cable's #1 drama series this summer with adults 18–49:
#1. Falling Skies (2.4 million adults 18–49)

Basic cable's Top 3 scripted series this summer with adults 25–54:
#1. Falling Skies (2.8 million adults 25–54)
#2. Rizzoli & Isles(2.8 million adults 25–54)
#3. Dallas (2.5 million adults 25–54)

New TNT Series Top the Charts
TNT will mark its third consecutive summer claiming cable's #1 new series, with Major Crimes following in the footsteps of Rizzoli & Islesin 2010 and Falling Skies in 2011. In addition, TNT is home to this summer's Top 3 new series on all of television, with Major Crimes toppin g the list, followed by Perception and Dallas.

Cable's Top 3 new series this year among total viewers
#1. Major Crimes (7.2 million viewers)
#2. Perception (6.1 million viewers)
#3. Dallas (5.9 million viewers)

Cable's Top 3 new drama series this year among adults 25–54
#1. Dallas (2.5 million adults 25–54)
#2. Perception (2.0 million adults 25–54)
#3. Major Crimes (2.0 million adults 25–54)

TNT Dominates List of Top Scripted Series Telecasts
When it comes to individual telecasts, TNT's lineup of original series currently account for all of basic cable's Top 15 scripted series telecasts this summer, with the series finale of The Closer coming in at #1. Also within the Top 15 are several episodes of Rizzoli & Islesand the series debuts of Dallas (8.3 million viewers Live + 7 – June 13) and Perception (7.5 million viewers Live + 7 – July 9).

TNT Series Expand Significantly through Time–Shifted Viewing
Time–shifted viewing data indicates millions of viewers are making a concerted effort to catch every episode of their favorite TNT dramas. Each TNT drama has added at least 1.8 million viewers through time–shifted viewing, with Falling Skies, Perception and Dallas exceeding 2 million time–shifting viewers and The Closer and Rizzoli & Islesexceeding 3 million. In addition, The Closer's series finale has already grown to 10.7 million viewers in Live + 3, the biggest delivery ever for a TNT original series.

TNT Scores Primetime Growth
Driven by the power of its original series, TNT's summer primetime averages are up 5% among total viewers, +3% among adults 18–49 and +3% among adults 25–54, compared to summer 2011. In addition, TNT is set to finish the summer as basic cable's #1 network in total day delivery of adults 25–54.

About TNT
TNT, one of cable's top–rated networks, is television's destination for drama. Seen in 99 million households, TNT is home to such original drama series as Rizzoli & Isles, Falling Skies, Dallas, Perception, Major Crimes, Franklin & Bash, Leverage, Southland and the upcoming Monday Mornings. The network also features dramatic unscripted originals like this summer's The Great Escape and the upcoming Boston Blue (working title) and 72 Hours (working title). In addition, TNT is the cable home to popular dramas like The Mentalist, Bones, Supernatural, Las Vegas, Law & Order and Castle, which starts this year; primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards®; blockbuster movies; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR, the NBA and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.

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

Contact:

Karen Cassell
(404) 885–4238
karen.cassell@turner.com