USA Garners Best Cable Summer Ratings Ever
"Burn Notice" was the #1 scripted series for the summer in all of television, while "Royal Pains" ranks as the top rookie series so far this year.
September 1, 2009
NEW YORK, NY— USA made television history by delivering the best summer ever in all of basic cable in P25-54 (1.64 million), P18-49 (1.455 million), P18-34 (617,000), total viewers (3.6 million) and households (2.67 million) in prime. With August 2009 data, USA now has 12 consecutive months of each month beating all previous records for the network in P25-54 P18-49 total viewers and households. The network's record performance was driven by outstanding performances from original series, including Burn Notice, the top-rated scripted series in all of television—broadcast or cable, including pay-TV—in P25-54.
In summer prime , USA was the most watched cable network by wide margins, delivering the most P25-54 (+45% over #2 TNT), P18-49 (+48% over #2 TNT), P18-34 (+18% over #2 TBS), total viewers (+23% over #2 Disney Channel) and households (+28% over #2 Disney Channel); it also earned the highest household coverage rating in basic cable prime (2.71, +0.5 over #2 Disney Channel). USA was the only network to deliver over 1.5 million in P25-54 1 million in P18-49 3 million total viewers, or 2.5 million households in Summer 2009
USA registered victories over Broadcast in over 200 primetime (M-Su 8P-11P) hours this month, with new original episodes of "Burn Notice," "Royal Pains," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "In Plain Sight," "Monk," and "Psych," "WWE's Monday Night Raw" hit movies and episodes of the top acquired series on cable: "NCIS," "House" and "Law & Order: Special Victimes Unit."
USA continues to out-perform The CW, more than tripling the broadcaster's performance among P25-54 (+151%) and total viewers (+152%), and more than doubling The CW's P18-49 (+147%) and P18-34 (+139%) audiences this summer.
Television's top scripted series this summer, broadcast or cable (basic and pay), was "Burn Notice," delivering more P25-54 (3.72 million), and total male viewers (3.91 million) than any other scripted series airing new episodes, including HBO's hit series True Blood. Among P18-49 Burn Notice was the summer's #1 scripted series on ad-supported television. The season finale of Burn Notice averaged 9.1 million total viewers and 4.4 million in P25-54 making it USA's top original series telecast of all time in those key demos.
"Burn Notice" delivered over 8 million total viewers three times this season, a benchmark never before exceeded by a USA original series. "Burn Notice" Season 3 was the most watched season of a USA Original series ever, delivering more P25-54 P18-49 P18-34 total viewers, and households than any single season performance for the network.
"Royal Pains" is the most watched new cable series of the year in P25-54 P18-49 total viewers, and households and the top new scripted series in P18-34. It is also USA's most-watched first season of an original series ever. With the launch of Royal Pains in 2009, USA can boast the year's top-rated new cable series for the fourth year in a row.
"Royal Pains" was second only to "Burn Notice" in all of television—broadcast or cable—among this summer's scripted series with new episodes in P25-54 (3.4 million) and total males (3.21 million). "Burn Notice" was the summer's only ad-supported scripted series with new episodes delivering more P18-49 than "Royal Pains" (2.98 million).
On nights the network ran "Royal Pains" Thursdays at 10P, USA was the most watched television network, broadcast or cable, in P18-49 and P18-34 delivery, while placing second only to CBS among P25-54 total viewers, and households.
"Psych" and "Monk" were the top Friday night series on cable this summer in P18-49 ("Psych" 1.93 million / "Monk" 1.92 million)."Monk" was the #1 cable series Fridays this summer among P25-54 (2.375 million) and total viewers (5.68 million) while "Psych" was the most watched cable series on Fridays in P18-34 (873,000), placing second only to "Monk" in scripted series for P25-54 (2.21 million).
"In Plain Sight" was the top ad-supported scripted television series with new episodes Sunday nights this summer, broadcast or cable, in P25-54 (2.38 million), P18-49 (2.01 million), total viewers (4.98 million) and households (3.71 million).
"WWE's Monday Night Raw" had its best summer since 2001, delivering more P25-54 (2.68 million), total viewers (5.72 million), and households (3.83 million) than the show has drawn in the past 8 years and growing year to year by +8% P25-54 +4% P18-49 +11% total viewers and +16% in households.
The three most watched acquired series on cable this summer were on USA: "NCIS," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "House." These series averaged 1.52 million, 1.24 million, and 931,000 in P25-54 respectively. NCIS was also the top acquired series this summer among P18-49 (1.19 million), total viewers (3.73 millin), and households (2.86 million) while "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" ranked 2nd in total viewers (2.93 million) and households (2.34 million).
In summer prime , USA was the most watched cable network by wide margins, delivering the most P25-54 (+45% over #2 TNT), P18-49 (+48% over #2 TNT), P18-34 (+18% over #2 TBS), total viewers (+23% over #2 Disney Channel) and households (+28% over #2 Disney Channel); it also earned the highest household coverage rating in basic cable prime (2.71, +0.5 over #2 Disney Channel). USA was the only network to deliver over 1.5 million in P25-54 1 million in P18-49 3 million total viewers, or 2.5 million households in Summer 2009
USA registered victories over Broadcast in over 200 primetime (M-Su 8P-11P) hours this month, with new original episodes of "Burn Notice," "Royal Pains," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "In Plain Sight," "Monk," and "Psych," "WWE's Monday Night Raw" hit movies and episodes of the top acquired series on cable: "NCIS," "House" and "Law & Order: Special Victimes Unit."
USA continues to out-perform The CW, more than tripling the broadcaster's performance among P25-54 (+151%) and total viewers (+152%), and more than doubling The CW's P18-49 (+147%) and P18-34 (+139%) audiences this summer.
Television's top scripted series this summer, broadcast or cable (basic and pay), was "Burn Notice," delivering more P25-54 (3.72 million), and total male viewers (3.91 million) than any other scripted series airing new episodes, including HBO's hit series True Blood. Among P18-49 Burn Notice was the summer's #1 scripted series on ad-supported television. The season finale of Burn Notice averaged 9.1 million total viewers and 4.4 million in P25-54 making it USA's top original series telecast of all time in those key demos.
"Burn Notice" delivered over 8 million total viewers three times this season, a benchmark never before exceeded by a USA original series. "Burn Notice" Season 3 was the most watched season of a USA Original series ever, delivering more P25-54 P18-49 P18-34 total viewers, and households than any single season performance for the network.
"Royal Pains" is the most watched new cable series of the year in P25-54 P18-49 total viewers, and households and the top new scripted series in P18-34. It is also USA's most-watched first season of an original series ever. With the launch of Royal Pains in 2009, USA can boast the year's top-rated new cable series for the fourth year in a row.
"Royal Pains" was second only to "Burn Notice" in all of television—broadcast or cable—among this summer's scripted series with new episodes in P25-54 (3.4 million) and total males (3.21 million). "Burn Notice" was the summer's only ad-supported scripted series with new episodes delivering more P18-49 than "Royal Pains" (2.98 million).
On nights the network ran "Royal Pains" Thursdays at 10P, USA was the most watched television network, broadcast or cable, in P18-49 and P18-34 delivery, while placing second only to CBS among P25-54 total viewers, and households.
"Psych" and "Monk" were the top Friday night series on cable this summer in P18-49 ("Psych" 1.93 million / "Monk" 1.92 million)."Monk" was the #1 cable series Fridays this summer among P25-54 (2.375 million) and total viewers (5.68 million) while "Psych" was the most watched cable series on Fridays in P18-34 (873,000), placing second only to "Monk" in scripted series for P25-54 (2.21 million).
"In Plain Sight" was the top ad-supported scripted television series with new episodes Sunday nights this summer, broadcast or cable, in P25-54 (2.38 million), P18-49 (2.01 million), total viewers (4.98 million) and households (3.71 million).
"WWE's Monday Night Raw" had its best summer since 2001, delivering more P25-54 (2.68 million), total viewers (5.72 million), and households (3.83 million) than the show has drawn in the past 8 years and growing year to year by +8% P25-54 +4% P18-49 +11% total viewers and +16% in households.
The three most watched acquired series on cable this summer were on USA: "NCIS," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and "House." These series averaged 1.52 million, 1.24 million, and 931,000 in P25-54 respectively. NCIS was also the top acquired series this summer among P18-49 (1.19 million), total viewers (3.73 millin), and households (2.86 million) while "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" ranked 2nd in total viewers (2.93 million) and households (2.34 million).