Lifetime Television's Smash Hit 'Army Wives' Shatters Record-Breaking Premiere in Third Week With 3.1 Household Rating

- Streams of Series on LifetimeTV.com Rose 59% Week-to-Week -

NEW YORK, June 18 -- Continuing to break industry records, Lifetime Television's new smash hit "Army Wives" is the only first-year original major cable network drama in five years* to post a ratings increase in its third episode versus its premiere. In its third week, the critically acclaimed series posted a 3.1 household rating, marking a jump of seven percent (vs. 2.9 in premiere) during the Sunday, June 17, 10PM (ET/PT) telecast.

In its key demo of W18-49, "Army Wives" leaped to a 2.35, up 12% from the premiere (2.10), along with soaring 13% to a 2.6 among W25-54 (versus a 2.3). "Army Wives" also drew an average of 3.8 million viewers, up nine percent from the 3.5 million P2+ it polled during its debut on June 3, which made it the most-watched series premiere in Lifetime's 23-year history.

"Army Wives" continues to be a hit online as well, with streams of the drama on LifetimeTV.com up 59% week-to-week as viewers caught up on the first two episodes.

This Sunday, June 24, a special marathon of the series' first three episodes will air from 7-10PM (ET/PT) leading into an all-new episode at 10PM (ET/PT).

Building upon the success of "Army Wives," Lifetime's bold summer strategy of debuting three new dramas for the same night in the same season continues on Sunday, July 15 when "Side Order of Life" and "State of Mind" premiere at 8PM (ET/PT) and 9PM (ET/PT), respectively.

Filmed on location in Charleston, South Carolina, "Army Wives" stars Emmy(R) Award winner Kim Delaney ("NYPD Blue"), Sally Pressman ("Shark"), Brigid Brannagh ("Over There"), Brian McNamara ("The O.C."), Sterling K. Brown ("Starved"), Wendy Davis ("Commander in Chief"), Drew Fuller ("Charmed") and Catherine Bell ("JAG"). Mark Gordon ("Grey's Anatomy," "Criminal Minds") and The Mark Gordon Company's President of Production, Deborah Spera ("Criminal Minds") serve as executive producers. Jeff Melvoin ("Alias") serves as executive producer and show runner. Katherine Fugate ("The Prince & Me") created the series and also serves as executive producer and writer. The series is based on the book Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives by Tanya Biank, who serves as a consultant. "Army Wives" is produced by ABC Studios.

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. LIFETIME Television, LMN, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (including LifetimeTV.com) are part of LIFETIME Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

* "Monk" rose from a 3.5 to a 3.7 household rating in 2002

SOURCE Lifetime Television
http://www.lifetimetv.com