December was a month to remember for TV Guide Network, as it delivered its highest program ratings of the year driven by two marquee events: the “I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story” exclusive television special and telecasts of “Dirty Dancing,” the beloved fan-favorite film from the extensive library of Lionsgate.
“I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story” became the highest rated television special in TV Guide Network’s history, and “Dirty Dancing” became TV Guide Network’s highest rated Friday night premiere of all time. Both programs delivered triple-digit gains among women 25-54 for the network over prior year. TV Guide Network’s primetime household coverage rating for December 2009 increased 20 percent among total households versus prior year, reaching a total of 35 million viewers (persons 2+).
“Acquiring a highly sought after television special on Susan Boyle combined with telecasts of the seminal movie hit ‘Dirty Dancing’ ensured that we finished off 2009 with a solid ratings performance,” said Ryan O’Hara, President of TV Guide Network and TVGuide.com. “We look forward to carrying this momentum forward in 2010 as TV Guide Network continues to grow as a top destination for buzz-worthy entertainment programming.”
“I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story” premiered exclusively on TV Guide Network on Sunday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. The television special delivered a 1.0 coverage rating (765,000 HH) for the 8:00 p.m. telecast and a .8 HH coverage rating (665,000 HH) for the 9:00 p.m. encore and were TV Guide Network’s #1 and #2 highest rated telecasts of 2009. In addition, the premiere delivered a 225 percent increase among women 25-54 versus prior year. TV Guide Network secured the exclusive rights to air “I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story” amidst the singer’s meteoric rise on the U.S. and worldwide music charts.
“Dirty Dancing” delivered TV Guide Network’s best Friday night ratings and reach when it aired on Friday, December 4 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT and 11:00 p.m. ET/PT. The premiere and encore telecasts reached four million viewers (persons 2+), a 31 percent increase over the prior year’s time period reach. In addition, the premiere delivered a 111 percent increase among women 25-54 versus prior year. “Dirty Dancing” also aired on TV Guide Network as a 12-hour marathon on Christmas day and delivered a triple digit increase (118 percent) among women 18-49 versus same time period on Christmas day in 2008.
About TV Guide Network
TV Guide Network is the true entertainment insider and the only network that celebrates Hollywood, its stars and the shows that fans adore. Committed to buzz-worthy, breakout programming and a rich, multi-platform viewing experience, TV Guide Network is seen in more than 80 million homes nationwide and online at TVGuide.com, a one-stop fan destination serving 21 million unique users per month. TV Guide Network is home to some of America’s fan-favorite series including “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Ugly Betty” and “American Idol Rewind.” The network also takes fans behind-the-scenes of Hollywood with original programming that delivers the latest news on entertainment and pop culture, as well as live coverage of the industry’s biggest events such as the Red Carpet at the Academy Awards® and Primetime Emmy® Awards. TV Guide Network, TVGuide.com and the TV Guide brand are owned by Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading next-generation studio and producer of award-winning series “Mad Men” and “Weeds,” and One Equity Partners, the private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase.
Source: TV Guide Network
