or


[12/10/08 - 01:29 PM]
Record-Breaking Original Programming Drives TNT to Sixth Consecutive Year as Ad-Supported Cable's #1 Network Among Adults 25-54 in Total Day
TNT spins the numbers for the year to date.

[via press release from TNT]

Record-Breaking Original Programming Drives TNT to Sixth Consecutive Year As Ad-Supported Cable's #1 Network Among Adults 25-54 in Total Day

December 10, 2008

Driven in large part by the success of its high-profile original series, TNT has once again secured its place as ad-supported cable's #1 network in total day delivery of adults 25-54, according to year-to-date numbers from Nielsen Media Research. This will mark the sixth consecutive year TNT has won that prized demographic.

TNT's enormous success in 2008, which included year-over-year growth across the board, was revved-up by stellar performances by the network's original series � two that returned from previous years and two that debuted this year.

The Closer continued to solidify its position as ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time, this year averaging 8.5 million viewers, while Saving Grace scored a loyal audience of 5.2 million viewers. Raising the Bar burst onto the scene with a record-breaking launch on Labor Day, and Leverage scored a personal best for the network with its debut during the height of the broadcast season.

On the sports front, TNT's coverage of the 2007-08 NBA regular season, the NBA All-Star game and the NBA Playoffs all scored significant growth vs. last year.

"Our strategy this year has been to aggressively expand TNT's slate of high-quality original programming," said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. "We built on the enormous critical and popular success of The Closer and Saving Grace with the launches of Raising the Bar and Leverage, setting the stage for TNT to continue challenging the broadcast networks head-on in the coming year."

2008 Ratings Highlights for TNT:

Year-to-date, TNT ranks #1 in adults 25-54 in total day, up 6% vs. last year.

� TNT is showing primetime and total-day growth across the board, with adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54, households and viewers up when compared to last year.

TNT's The Closer continues to rank as ad-supported cable's #1 series of all time. This summer, it averaged 8.5 million viewers, 6.3 million households, 2.7 million adults 18-49 and 3.7 million adults 25-54.

� The Closer showed growth when compared to last summer, with adults 18-49 up 4%, adults 25-54 up 6% and women 18-49 up 7%.

For its second season, TNT's Saving Grace averaged 5.2 million viewers, 4.0 million households, 1.7 million adults 18-49 and 2.4 million adults 25-54.

� Saving Grace consistently ranked as ad-supported cable's #2 Monday program (behind The Closer).

TNT's new drama series, Raising the Bar, premiered Labor Day and set a new record with ad-supported cable's largest audience ever � 8.6 million viewers and 6.3 million households � for a new series launch.

� The premiere of Raising the Bar also ranked as ad-supported cable's top series launch for the year among adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

� Raising the Bar averaged 3.2 million viewers for its first season.

TNT's latest drama series, Leverage, premiered Sunday, Dec. 8, and was watched by 5 million viewers.

� Leverage scored TNT's best delivery ever of adults 18-49 (2.1 million) for an original series telecast during the broadcast season.

The TNT original movie The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalis scored big numbers for its December premiere. It was watched by more than 5.4 million viewers.

On the sports front, TNT's 2007-08 coverage of the NBA garnered double-digit growth across the board, with viewers up 12%, adults 18-34 up 29%, adults 18-49 up 25%, adults 25-54 up 26%, men 18-34 up 39%, men 18-49 up 29% and men 25-54 up 26%.

� TNT's Feb. 17 coverage of the 2008 NBA All-Star Game on TNT delivered terrific key demo growth among adults 18-34 (+18%), adults 18-49 (+5%), men 18-34 (+20%) and men 18-49 (+5%). The adult and men 18-34 deliveries were TNT's best since the 2005 NBA All Star Game.

� NBA All-Star Saturday Night on TNT was the most watched in the event's 23-year history. The festivities saw increases among viewers (+7%), adults 18-34 (+13%), adults 18-49 (+13%), men 18-34 (+17%) and men 18-49 (+15%).

� TNT's coverage of the 2008 NBA Playoffs was especially strong in audience delivery this year, with the playoff averages showing year-over-year growth among households (+15%), viewers (+14%), adults 18-34 (+25%), adults 18-49 (+22%), adults 25-54 (+24%), men 18-34 (+30%), men 18-49 (+23%) and men 25-54 (+22%).

Turner Network Television (TNT), one of cable's top-rated networks, is television's destination for drama and home to such original series as the acclaimed and highly popular detective drama The Closer, starring Kyra Sedgwick; Saving Grace, starring Holly Hunter; Raising the Bar, with Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Gloria Reuben and Jane Kaczmarek; Leverage, starring Timothy Hutton; and Trust Me, with Eric McCormack and Tom Cavanagh. TNT also presents such powerful dramas as Bones, Cold Case, Law & Order, Without a Trace, ER and Charmed; broadcast premiere movies; compelling primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards�; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR and the NBA. TNT is available in high-definition.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

All claims are based on Live + 7 data when available. All other claims are based on Live + Same Day data.

Year-to-Date Ratings Period: 12/31/07-12/7/08





  [december 2008]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· CLOSER, THE (TNT)
· LEVERAGE (TNT)
· LIBRARIAN 3, THE: CURSE OF THE JUDAS CHALICE (TNT)
· RAISING THE BAR (TNT)
· SAVING GRACE (TNT)





[10/17/25 - 01:16 PM]
"Live with Kelly and Mark" Hits Season Highs with Best Audience Performance Since July
"Live" has now ranked as the No. 1 talk show in syndication for 139 consecutive weeks across all key measures.

[10/17/25 - 10:38 AM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Continues Historic Hot Streak - Rising for Fourth Straight Week Since Premiere with 6 Million Total Viewers
Plus: "High Potential" dominated the 10 p.m. hour with 4.15 million Total Viewers and a 0.33 rating among Adults 18-49.

[10/17/25 - 10:01 AM]
51st Season of "Saturday Night Live" Continues with Three Back-to-Back Shows in November
Miles Teller is on tap to host on November 1, followed by Nikki Glaser on November 8, and Glen Powell on November 15.

[10/17/25 - 09:05 AM]
All-New Season of "The Last Woodsmen" Premieres Friday, November 14 at 9PM ET/PT on Discovery
Deep in the untamed wilderness of the Pacific Northwest, veteran logger Jared Douglas returns to put everything on the line in the new season.

[10/17/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia" - Sneak Peek - Netflix
A brutal mob war between John Stanfa and Joey Merlino plunges '90s Philadelphia into chaos and bloodshed in this captivating true-crime series.

[10/17/25 - 08:31 AM]
Video: "Me late que si" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A desperate, ordinary man, fed up with his misfortune, hatches a daring heist and assembles a very unusual group to attempt the impossible: stealing a live lottery jackpot.

[10/17/25 - 08:00 AM]
"Weapons" Begins Streaming Exclusively on HBO Max October 24
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at 2:17 a.m., a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.

[10/17/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "My Secret Santa" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A vivacious single-mom (Alexandra Breckenridge) in need of a job decides to disguise herself as a man in order to get hired as the seasonal Santa at a luxury ski resort.

[10/17/25 - 07:01 AM]
"Euphoria" Season 3 Is Coming Spring 2026
Newly announced cast members include Gideon Adlon, Bill Bodner, Colleen Camp, Danielle Deadwyler, Homer Gere, Jessica Blair Herman, Natasha Lyonne, Hemky Madera, Kwame Patterson, Trisha Paytas, Rebecca Pidgeon, Bella Podaras, Cailyn Rice, Eli Roth, Madison Thompson, Jack Topalian, Sam Trammell, Matthew Willig.

[10/17/25 - 06:01 AM]
Video: "Eloa the Hostage: Live on TV" - Official Trailer - Netflix
This gripping documentary explores the case of a teenage girl who was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend in one of Brazil's most shocking hostage situations.

[10/17/25 - 06:01 AM]
Apple Is the Exclusive New Broadcast Partner for Formula 1 in the U.S.
Apple TV will deliver comprehensive coverage of Formula 1, with all practice, qualifying, Sprint sessions, and Grands Prix available to Apple TV subscribers.

[10/16/25 - 02:11 PM]
Video: National Geographic Unveils First Look at "Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember" - A Powerful and Heartfelt Special Featuring the Global Movie Star on His Most Personal Journey Yet
The one-hour documentary, from Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky's Protozoa, Jane Root's Nutopia, and Chris Hemsworth and Ben Grayson's Wild State, premieres November 23 at 9:00/8:00c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

[10/16/25 - 12:58 PM]
Lifetime Announces Annual "It's a Wonderful Lifetime" Holiday Movie Slate Kicking Off November 29th
Featured talent this year includes Brandy Norwood, Kane & Katelyn Brown, Loretta Devine, Debbi Morgan, Arielle Kebbel, Tyler Hilton, James Lafferty, Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Sy'Rai Smith, Nischelle Turner, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, and others.

[10/16/25 - 12:31 PM]
Video: "The Witcher" Season 4 - Character Trailer - Netflix
Scattered to fates unknown, Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri traverse the war-torn Continent and its countless enemies in the hope of finding each other again.

[10/16/25 - 11:32 AM]
A+E Global Media and Rachael Ray's Free Food Studios Cook Up Expanded Programming Partnership with Over 100 New Episodes Ordered
The network has ordered 110 new episodes of Ray's programming, including new episodes of "Meals in Minutes," that will continue to focus on her approachable and comforting cooking style.