ION Records Best Quarter & Month Ever; Ranks 15th for the Year, the Greatest Gain in Rank Among Cable Entertainment Networks. Only Network to Record Double-Digit Growth in All Key Demos for Three Consecutive Years.
As 2011 begins, ION Television celebrates its most watched year ever in 2010 in prime time across all key demos and total viewers while recording its best quarter and month ever to date, according to Nielsen Media Research. Additionally, as ION Television finishes out the year, the network is currently the #15 ranked network in A25-54 among all cable entertainment networks (up from #23). Among all cable entertainment networks, ION posted the greatest jump in rank from 2009, up eight spots.
“The year, ION Television’s continued success indicates that our general entertainment series and movie offerings are resonating with growing audiences”
In prime time for 2010, ION experienced tremendous year-over-year gains in key demos averaging 480,000 A25-54 (+47%), 417,000 A18-49 (+59%), 299,000 W25-54 (+72%), 265,000 W18-49 (+87%) and 1,157,000 total viewers (+60%) – making it the only network to register a record double-digit growth for three consecutive years.
For 4Q10, ION celebrated its best primetime quarter ever among A18-49 (437,000), W18-49 (287,000), W25-54 (316,000) and total viewers (1,252,000). Additionally, ION finished the year on a high note, as December also came in as the most watched month ever in traditional prime among W25-54 (349,000), W18-49 (309,000) and total viewers (1,361,000).
“The year, ION Television’s continued success indicates that our general entertainment series and movie offerings are resonating with growing audiences,” says Brandon Burgess, CEO, ION Media Networks. “With that in mind, we will expand our content offering for broad audiences and have interesting things in the works for 2011.”
This year also saw ION Television accomplish other milestones such as scoring 42 of its top 50 days ever, 42 of its top 50 weeks ever, while each quarter ranked among the net’s top four ever this year.
The primetime ratings surge was driven, in part, by the continued success of ION Television’s hit off-network series “Criminal Minds” and “Without a Trace,” and its blockbuster theatricals.
“Criminal Minds”: compared to its year ago 4Q09 launch, 4Q10 “Criminal Minds” telecasts gained +15% on A25-54 (623,000 vs. 542,000) and +25% on A18-49 (572,000 vs. 456,000).
“Without a Trace”: improved the 2009 time period average for A25-54 by +19% (399,000) and +27% among A18-49 (342,000).
“ION’s Blockbuster Movies”: up 28% on A25-54 from year-ago (332,000) and +38% on A18-49 (284,000).*
(source: ION Television)
