"SONS OF ANARCHY" SEASON 4 PREMIERE EPISODE MOST-WATCHED PROGRAM IN FX HISTORY

Basic Cable's #1-Rated Drama Series Telecast of 2011 In Adults 18-49 and Men 18-49

First-Run Telecast Delivers 6.5 Million Total Viewers and 4.3 Million Adults 18-49 Marking Respective Gains of +25% and +20% Over Season 3 Premiere

First Run and Encore Telecasts Combine to Deliver 9.5 Million Total Viewers, 6.3 Million Adults 18-49, and 3.7 Million Men 18-49

LOS ANGELES, September 26, 2011 - Based on Live+7 ratings from The Nielsen Company, the fourth season premiere episode of FX's critically acclaimed hit drama series Sons of Anarchy became the most-watched program in the network's 17-year history.

The first-run telecast of the season four premiere of Sons (9/6/11, 10-11:30 PM) delivered 6.5 million Total Viewers, 4.3 million Adults 18-49 and 2.5 million Men 18-49, which rank as basic cable's top-drama series telecast in those Adult demos in 2011. On a Live+7 comparison, the season four premiere posted increases of +25% in Total Viewers and +20% in Adults 18-49 versus the third season premiere. The episode also set a record for FX in Adults 25-54 (4.2 million), Men 25-54 (2.4 million), and Households (4.6 million).

The first-run and encore telecasts of the season four premiere episode combined to deliver 9.5 million Total Viewers, 6.3 Million Adults 18-49 and 3.7 million Men 18-49.

The DVR lift between Live+SameDay and Live+7 for the season four premiere were +31% in Total Viewers (+1.5 million), +33% in Adults 18-49 (+1.1 million), and +34% in Men 18-49 (+650,000).

Listed below are the top five highest-rated telecasts ever on FX.

TOTAL VIEWERS
Date Program (000s) Rank
9/6/2011 SONS OF ANARCHY SN 4 [premiere] 6,460 1
6/1/2003 FX Original Move: 44 MINUTES 6,099 2
6/5/2005 NEXTEL CUP RACE 6,058 3
6/4/2006 NEXTEL CUP RACE 5,969 4
12/20/2005 NIP TUCK SN 3 [finale] 5,684 5

PERSONS 18-49
Date Program (000s) Rank
9/6/2011 SONS OF ANARCHY SN 4 [premiere] 4,285 1
10/30/2007 NIP TUCK SN 5 [P] 3,956 2
12/20/2005 NIP TUCK SN 4 [F] 3,919 3
12/1/2009 SONS OF ANARCHY SN 2 [finale] 3,680 4
9/20/2005 NIP TUCK SN 3 [premiere] 3,676 5

MEN 18-49
Date Program (000s) Rank
9/6/2011 SONS OF ANARCHY SN 4 [premiere] 2,540 1
9/7/2010 SONS OF ANARCHY SN 3 [premiere] 2,403 2
12/1/2009 SONS OF ANARCHY SN 2 [finale] 2,340 3
9/8/2009 SONS OF ANARCHY SN 2 [premiere] 2,212 4
10/6/09 SONS OF ANARCHY SN2 [episode 5] 2077 5

ADULTS 25-54
Date Program (000s) Rank
9/6/2011 SONS OF ANARCHY SN 4 [premiere] 4,192 1
6/1/2003 FX Original Movie: 44 MINUTES 3,524 2
9/7/2010 SONS OF ANARCHY SN 3 [premiere] 3,504 3
12/1/2009 SONS OF ANARCHY SN 2 [finale] 3,468 4
9/20/2005 NIP TUCK SN 3 [premiere] 3,450 5

Source: NTI; all FX telecasts as dated. Live+7 (000)s. Data prior to 12/26/05 is program 'Live'.

In tomorrow night's all new episode of Sons of Anarchy "Una Venta" (Airs September 27, 10:00 pm e/p) SAMCRO makes a run to set up a new business venture while Gemma makes a new ally in Charming. (Written by Kurt Sutter & Marco Ramirez; Directed by Billy Gierhart)

Sons of Anarchy was created by Kurt Sutter, and is executive produced by Sutter, John Linson, Art Linson and Paris Barclay. The series is produced by Fox 21 and FX Productions.

Sons of Anarchy is an adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones that explores a notorious outlaw motorcycle club's (MC) desire to protect its livelihood while ensuring that their simple, sheltered town of Charming, California remains exactly that, Charming. The MC must confront threats from drug dealers, corporate developers, and overzealous law officers. Behind the MC's familial lifestyle and legally thriving automotive shop is a ruthless and illegally thriving arms business. The seduction of money, power, and blood.

Jackson 'Jax' Teller (Charlie Hunnam) is the MC's vice-president who is tested by his growing apprehension for its lawlessness, Gemma Teller Morrow (Katey Sagal) is Jax's force-of-nature mother, and Clarence 'Clay' Morrow (Ron Perlman) is Jax's stepfather and MC president. The triangle of Mother, Son, and Stepfather will ultimately reveal the dark secrets in this family's past and the lengths they will go to protect their sins.

This season begins with SAMCRO fresh out of jail and back into Charming. Upon their arrival, they encounter new law enforcement and head right back to business. The club is pressed with a decision that could challenge what SOA has always stood for and brings forth an unlikely alliance. With Jax, fresh out of a jail and the birth of his newborn son, he is forced to put new plans into motion that could affect the club and ultimately his family.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from the Fox Networks Group. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning original series, an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox and other studios and an impressive roster of acquired hit series. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com.

SOURCE: The Nielsen Company (Live+7)