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





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