The epic series from DreamWorks Television and Executive Producer Steven Spielberg is now cable’s #1 new series. Starring Noah Wyle and airing Sundays at 10 p.m. (ET), it’s about the aftermath of an all-out invasion by an alien military force. TNT has ordered 10 episodes for the second season, which is slated to air in summer 2012.
Specifically, 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 and Drew Roy.
After its premiere on Sunday, 6/19, the show scored a Live + 7 audience of 8 million viewers, ranking it as cable’s top series launch of 2011. The premiere also garnered an 3.8 million adults 18-49 and 4.5 million adults 25-54. Through its first three installments, Falling Skies has averaged more than 6.4 million viewers via live and time-shifted viewing.
In the opening stages of its rollout in more than 75 international markets, it has already drawn strong – and in some cases record – audience deliveries for networks airing it in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela.
RBR-TVBR observation: This is a good example of how time-shifted viewing, when included in ratings, can vault a show to top rankings. Also, placing the show in 75 global markets is another example of how programming is indeed going global. Global advertisers are also finding a whole new level of reach with one-stop buying on shows such as this.
