LIFETIME Original Movies Continue Scoring Top Ratings As 'Mom at Sixteen' Draws More Than Four Million Viewers

LIFETIME Original Movies Are Five Highest Rated Original Ad-Supported Cable Movies of 2005

NEW YORK, March 23 -- Make that five. With the LIFETIME Original Movie "Mom at Sixteen" garnering a 3.6 HH rating and 4.2 million viewers during its premiere on Monday night, LIFETIME Television now claims the five highest rated original movies on ad-supported cable this year among HH, W18-49 and W25-54. The Mercedes Ruehl/Jane Krakowski vehicle joins "Dawn Anna," "Widow on the Hill," "More Sex and the Single Mom," and "Lies My Mother Told Me."

So far in 2005, LIFETIME Original Movies rank #1 among all ad-supported cable nets, averaging 3.9 million P2+ as well as ranking #1 among HH, W18-34, W18-49 and W25-54.

Further emphasizing LIFETIME's continuing appeal to younger viewers, the network also has four of the top five rated original movies among W18-34. "Mom at Sixteen" was by far the highest rated ad-supported cable original movie of the year among W18-34 (with a 3.8 rating) and was LIFETIME's highest rated original movie among this important demo since Video Voyeur earned the same rating in January 2002. Among W18-49 (3.3 rating), the latest LIFETIME Original Movie earned the franchise's highest rating since Homeless to Harvard in April 2003.

Airing 9-11PM (ET/PT), "Mom at Sixteen" ranked first for the night versus all ad-supported cable networks among W18-34, W18-49, and W25-54 ratings and out-delivered broadcast networks UPN and WB (9-10pm) among HH, W18-34, W18-49 and W25-54.

"Mom at Sixteen," which also starred Danielle Panabaker and Colin Ferguson, was a thought-provoking drama about a 16-year-old girl whose life is thrown into turmoil when she has a baby and her mother forces her to keep the birth a secret. Eventually, with the help of a supportive guidance counselor, she finds a positive way to resolve the dilemma.

The next LIFETIME Original Movie is "Odd Girl Out," starring Alexa Vega ("Spy Kids," "Sleepover") and Lisa Vidal ("The Division," "Chasing Papi"), a compelling drama that illuminates the all-too-common problem of cliques, competition and bullying among teenage girls. "Odd Girl Out" premieres Monday, April 4 at 9 PM (ET/PT).

"Mom at Sixteen" was produced by Sofronski Productions in association with von Zerneck / Sertner Films for LIFETIME Television. Frank von Zerneck, Robert M. Sertner (LIFETIME's "Gracie's Choice" and "We Were the Mulvaneys") and Bernie Sofronski ("Murder in Greenwich," "A Father's Choice") executive produced. Peter Werner (LIFETIME's "We Were the Mulvaneys" and "Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story") directed from the teleplay written by Nancey Silvers ("The Elizabeth Smart Story," "Moms on Strike").

LIFETIME is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, LIFETIME is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Launched in 1984, LIFETIME serves 88 million households nationwide. In 1998, LIFETIME launched Lifetime Movie Network, now in more than 44 million homes, and in 2001, Lifetime Real Women. LIFETIME Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Radio for Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment and Lifetime Online are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

SOURCE LIFETIME Television