TNT’s Falling Skies – the #1 new basic cable series in the United States – ended its first season Sunday night with 5,623,000 viewers, plus an outstanding 2,531,000 adults 18-49 and 2,835,000 adults 25-54. These Live + Same Day deliveries mark the show’s best performance since the June 19 premiere. After scoring cable’s top new series launch of the year, Falling Skies ranks as basic cable’s #1 new show of 2011 among viewers and tops all scripted basic cable series this summer with adults 18-49 and 25-54. TNT has already renewed Falling Skies for a 10-episode second season, slated for 2012.
Falling Skies – which stars Noah Wyle and comes to TNT from DreamWorks Television, TNT Productions and executive producer Steven Spielberg – also premiered in markets worldwide this summer, marking the first time a TNT series was launched around the globe. The series will ultimately appear in more than 115 international markets on a variety of networks. Falling Skies has been a hit in the United Kingdom, Australia and Latin America, among many other places. Falling Skies set records in numerous markets, including Spain, Germany and Austria, where the premiere ranked as the best series launch ever for TNT networks in those countries.
“The terrific performance of Falling Skies shows that a compelling series appeals to people of every background,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “We’ve had the privilege of working with a terrific cast and crew, led by Steven Spielberg and our partners at DreamWorks. All of us are excited that Falling Skies has become a global success.”
Falling Skies premiered on TNT in the United States June 19, drawing 5.9 million viewers in Live + Same Day. For the season overall, Falling Skies averaged 4.8 million viewers in Live + Same Day delivery, with 2.1 million adults 18-49 and 2.5 million adults 25-54. The show has performed exceptionally well in time-shifted viewing, averaging a strong 48% boost among total viewers when comparing Live + 7 to Live + Same Day deliveries, with gains of 58% among adults 18-49 and 54% among adults 25-54. The Live + 7 total for the season finale will be available Aug. 22.
TNT partnered with Turner Broadcasting System International, Inc. for worldwide distribution of the first season. Warner Bros. International Television holds licensing rights for Canada.
Falling Skies takes place in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. Tom Mason (Wyle), a Boston history professor and the father of three sons, must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as second in command of a regiment of resistance fighters protecting a large group of civilian survivors. Falling Skies also stars Moon Bloodgood, Will Patton, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight, Connor Jessup, Colin Cunningham, Sarah Sanguin Carter, Seychelle Gabriel, Mpho Koaho and Peter Shinkoda.
Falling Skies is executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, along with DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, Graham Yost and screenwriter Robert Rodat, who wrote the pilot from an idea he co-conceived with Spielberg. Mark Verheiden and Greg Beeman serve as co-executive producers.
(Source: TNT)
