or


[12/20/13 - 02:43 PM]
In 2013 Discovery Channel Delivers Highest Viewership in 12 Years
Discovery spins the numbers for the year to date.

[via press release from Discovery]

IN 2013 DISCOVERY CHANNEL DELIVERS HIGHEST VIEWERSHIP IN 12 YEARS

Discovery Smashes Ratings Records for Men in 2013 Skywire with Nik Wallenda #1 LIVE Event on Cable in 2013

During 2013 to date, Discovery Channel delivered its highest total viewership, and ratings in key demos, in 12 years; the channel also established a new ratings record for men. Additionally, SKYWIRE WITH NIK WALLENDA was the #1 live event on cable for the year and SHARK WEEK delivered its highest rated and most watched year. Discovery also had 11 series that averaged more than two million total viewers in 2013.

For 2013 to date (Dec. 31, 2012 - Dec. 15, 2013) among Total Viewers P2+, Discovery delivered its best year since 2001 with an increase of +5% vs. the same time period in 2012. The channel also had its best year since 2001 in Persons 18+, up 2% vs. 2012. Additionally, Discovery had its best year ever among Men 18+, up +3% vs. 2012.

Across the key demo, Discovery showed an increase of +6% in Persons 25-54 ratings and was also up +10% in Women 25-54 and +5% in Men 25-54 vs. the same time period in 2012. The channel once again staked its claim as a top 10 cable network in the highly prized Persons 25-54 demo, landing at #6 for the year among ad supported cable networks.

This year, Discovery had 11 series that averaged more than two million total viewers (P2+) each, and 33 series that averaged more than one million total viewers, up from 31 series in 2012. This year's regular series that continued to fuel curiosity and attract millions of viewers included GOLD RUSH, grabbing the top spot for the year as the channel's #1 series in 2013 to date with an average of 3.4 million total viewers. Rounding out the top five were NAKED AND AFRAID (2.9m), DEADLIEST CATCH (2.8m), AMISH MAFIA (2.5m) and both GOLD RUSH - SOUTH AMERICA and FAST N' LOUD with 2.4m.

SKYWIRE WITH NIK WALLENDA captivated viewers and smashed television, live, social media and digital ratings records, and delivered 13 million total viewers for the walk, dominating cable as the #1 live event in 2013. The live telecast also generated 1.3 million tweets on the day it aired, June 22, and had the special ranking as the #1 most social show across broadcast and cable in the U.S. according to Bluefin Signals, SocialGuide and Trendrr. SKYWIRE WITH NIK WALLENDA became the third highest-rated telecast of all-time in Discovery Channel history.

SHARK WEEK 2013 was the most-watched SHARK WEEK in the event's 26 year history across all key demos including Persons, Men and Women 25-54/18-49/18-34 delivery, no exclusions, from August 4-10. SHARK WEEK's first-ever late-night talk show, Shark After Dark, was a triumph and beat popular talk shows in the coveted Persons 18-34 delivery, including Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report, TBS' Conan, Bravo's Watch What Happens Live and E!'s Chelsea Lately. SHARK WEEK 2013 also dominated social media and became Discovery's most social programming event to date, generating more than 2.6 million Tweets from August 4-10, up +63% vs. 2012. With 11 Worldwide and 15 U.S. Trending Topics on Twitter, every SHARK WEEK premiere in 2013 trended as the tooth-filled lineup was a fixture every night in Prime Time.

Source: Nielsen. NHI Calendar. 2013YTD (12/31/12-12/15/13). Prime (8-11p). Program-based rank. #1 among HH and P2+ delivery! excluding sports.

Source: Nielsen. NHI Calendar. 1999-2013. Prime (8-11p). Program-based Time Period Network Rank. Discovery Channel.

Source: Nielsen. NPower. DISC. Shark Week. Mon-Sun, 8/5/13-8/11/13. 8p-11p. Sun-Sat, 8/4/13-8/10/13. 8p-11p. Cume. 6min Qual.

About Discovery Channel

Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 100.8 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 224 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com

About Discovery Communications

Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than two billion cumulative subscribers in 224 countries and territories. Discovery is dedicated to satisfying curiosity through 195 worldwide television networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science and Investigation Discovery, as well as U.S. joint venture networks OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, The Hub and 3net, the first 24-hour 3D network. Across the Nordic region, Discovery owns and operates SBS Discovery Media, a top-three portfolio of television brands that feature leading nonfiction content, as well as locally produced entertainment programs, sports and the best scripted series and movies from major studios. Discovery also is a leading provider of educational products and services to schools and owns and operates a diversified portfolio of digital media services, including Revision3. For more information please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.





  [december 2013]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· AMISH MAFIA (DISCOVERY)
· DEADLIEST CATCH (DISCOVERY)
· FAST N' LOUD (DISCOVERY)
· GOLD RUSH (DISCOVERY)
· NAKED AND AFRAID (DISCOVERY)
· SHARK AFTER DARK (DISCOVERY)





most recent ratings | view all posts
[01/07/26 - 12:32 PM]
Bowl Season on ESPN Networks Delivers Strongest Audience Since 2015-16
ABC delivered its largest non CFP bowl audience in 12 years, averaging 6.2 million viewers across six games.

[01/07/26 - 09:29 AM]
In 2025, Fans Power ESPN and "ESPN on ABC" to Its Most-Watched Year in Over a Decade
ESPN networks increased industry-leading sports share to 35 percent, up from 31 percent in 2024.

[01/06/26 - 03:18 PM]
FOX NFL Rings in Best Regular Season Since 2015
The regular season averaged 19.633 million viewers for the network.

[01/06/26 - 03:00 PM]
Record-Setting Season as "Sunday Night Football" on NBC and Peacock Averages 23.5 Million Viewers & Paces as Primetime's #1 Show for Unprecedented 15th Consecutive Year
"Sunday Night Football" averaged a Total Audience Delivery (TAD) of 23.5 million viewers for the 2025 season.

[01/06/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of December 29 - "Stranger Things 5" Concludes Right Side Up at No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
At No. 2 on the English TV list with 12.7 million views is the new Harlan Coben mystery series "Run Away," centered on a father desperate for clues about his missing daughter while a string of related murders heightens the urgency to find her.

[01/05/26 - 02:34 PM]
2025-26 College Football Playoff Quarterfinals on ESPN Score 19.3 Million Average Viewers; CFP Up YOY Through Two Rounds
The Rose Bowl (Indiana vs. Alabama) topped all coverage with 23.9 million viewers on average.

[01/05/26 - 09:49 AM]
Prime Video Delivers "Thursday Night Football's" Most-Watched Season Ever
The 2025 season averaged 15.33 million viewers throughout its 15-game campaign, marking a +16% increase over the 2024 season and the third-consecutive year of double-digit, year-over-year viewership growth.

[01/02/26 - 03:45 PM]
"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" Rises to Four Year High Reaching 30 Million Total Viewers at Midnight
The telecast averaged 18.8 million total viewers in the 11:30pm-12:30am hour alone.

[01/02/26 - 09:49 AM]
FOX NFL's Week 17 "America's Game of the Week" Comes Out on Top with 28.8 Million Viewers
The Eagles-Bills close finish marked FOX's second most-watched telecast of the regular season.

[12/31/25 - 12:46 PM]
NFL Christmas Gameday on Netflix Scores Again With the Lions-Vikings Becoming the Most-Streamed NFL Game in US History
Said coverage averaged 27.5 million viewers in the US, with US viewership peaking at over 30 million viewers.

[12/31/25 - 10:11 AM]
NFL on Prime's Christmas Night Showdown Between the Broncos and Chiefs Sets New Viewership Marks for "TNF"
The streamer's "Thursday Night Football" finale averaged 21.06 million viewers, peaking with 22.90 million.

[12/31/25 - 10:08 AM]
ESPN Delivered Largest Average NBA Christmas Audience Since 2018
The San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder game in the 2:30 p.m. window became ESPN's most-watched NBA Christmas game in the timeslot since 2017, averaging 6.7 million viewers.

[12/30/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of December 22 - "Stranger Things 5" Runs Up That Hill to No. 1 in This Week's Top 10
At No. 2 on the list was "Emily in Paris" Season 5 with 13.3 million views.

[12/30/25 - 08:00 AM]
Aced It! ESPN Scored Most-Watched 2025 NCAA Women's College Volleyball Season on Record
The entirety of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament finished up 13% year over year, averaging 666,000 viewers across the 15 matches and featured the most-watched Regionals on record.

[12/24/25 - 10:01 AM]
Dec. 20 Holiday Episode Ranks as #1 "Saturday Night Live" Telecast of the Season
Hosted by Ariana Grande with musical guest Cher, the episode drew 5.4 million viewers.