NBC UNIVERSAL CABLE ENTERTAINMENT BREAKS RECORDS IN Q1 2008
Among P18-49, NBC Universal Cable Entertainment Has 49 of Top 100 Telecasts in Q1 '08
Bravo Achieves Top 20 For The First Time Among Ad-Supported Cable Entertainment Networks, Achieved Highest Quarter in Channel's History
Oxygen Delivers Biggest Quarter In Net's History, Marks Milestone With Its Most Watched Telecast
SCI FI Has Best First Quarter In Channel's History Among Women 18-34, Q1 2008 Marks Six Consecutive Quarters of Solid Growth for Net
USA Remains #1 In P18-49 for Seven Consecutive Quarters, Net Delivered Best Q1 Performance For Any Cable Network In History
BURBANK, Calif. � April 9, 2008 � NBC Universal Cable Entertainment today announced the strong performance of the group in first quarter of 2008. Each of the group's fully distributed entertainment channels, Bravo, Oxygen, SCI FI and USA, broke previously established records and contributed to the group's nearly 50% dominance of the top 100 telecasts among P18-49, which includes four of the top five telecasts in the ranking. The announcements were made by Jeff Gaspin, President and COO, Universal Television Group.
"We are thrilled with the performance of our cable entertainment networks and the leadership positions they continue to maintain," said Gaspin. "USA broke cable industry records and Bravo, Oxygen and SCI FI all demonstrated strength across their schedules in a wide-range of categories."
Among P18-49, NBCU Cable Entertainment has almost half of the top 100 (49) telecasts for the quarter including USA's "Monk," "Psych" and "WWE Raw" and Bravo's "Top Chef" and "Project Runway." The number-two entertainment cable group was Viacom with 27.
Among P25-54 for the top 100 entertainment telecasts of 1Q '08 to date, NBCU Cable Entertainment had more than half (58) including USA's "Monk," "Psych," "WWE Raw" and "Law & Order: SVU," SCI FI's "Ghost Hunters" and "Stargate Atlantis" and Bravo's "Top Chef" and "Project Runway." In P25-54, the NBC Universal Cable Entertainment Nets had the top four telecasts during Q1. The number-two entertainment cable group was Turner with 22 out of the top 100.
Other group highlights include:
Oxygen, the fastest growing cable network in 2007, begins 2008 by celebrating its most successful quarter ever in both primetime and total day for total viewers, W18-49, W18-34 and P18-49. In addition, three of Oxygen's telecasts broke records this quarter � and four topped the one million viewers mark. This marks the first full quarter in which Oxygen is under the leadership of Lauren Zalaznick and has been owned and operated by NBC Universal.
For the first time in its history, Bravo broke into the top 20 cable entertainment ranker among P18-49 and the top 10 among women 18-49. Bravo again broke network ratings records in prime to deliver the highest quarter ever in the key adult 18-49 demo and in total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Propelled by the success of Bravo's Emmy nominated series "Top Chef" and "Project Runway," as well as the freshman hit series "Make Me A Supermodel," "The Millionaire Matchmaker" and "The Real Housewives of New York City," the network continues its momentum, marking a phenomenal ten consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth among adults 18-49 and eight consecutive quarters of year-over-year growth among total viewers. With explosive growth over first quarter 2008, Bravo is up 37 percent among adults18-49 and up 30 percent among total viewers, and achieved the youngest-skewing quarter ever in primetime with a median age of 40.
SCI FI enjoyed a healthy first quarter with impressive increases in all key demographics, including SCI FI's best first quarter ever among Women 18-34 (up 22%). Additionally SCI FI grew 19% among Women 18�49, and 12% with Women 25-54 compared to a year ago. Younger viewers were also up considerably, with a 12% spike among 2-17 year olds. Adults 18-49 and 25-54 each saw a 3% jump, and total viewers grew 6%. This marks SCI FI's sixth consecutive quarter with year-to-year growth in the three key female demographics: 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. SCI FI has consistently ranked among the top ten cable entertainment channels for P25-54 for the past ten years.
USA set unprecedented ratings records for all of cable in Q1 2008. Finishing the first quarter of the year as #1 among P18-49, P25-54, total viewers and households, this was USA's best quarter ever among P25-54 and total viewers, and in P18-49, this was USA's 2nd best quarter ever (behind Q4 2007) and best Q1 ever. No basic cable network has ever delivered as many P25-54, P18-49, total viewers or households in a first quarter than USA has in Q1 2008. Q1 2008 also marks the network's seventh consecutive quarter as #1 among P18-49 � the first time ever in basic cable history.
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