TNT

TNT's summer slate scored another spectacular week as the network claimed seven of basic cable's Top 10 dramas. In addition, nearly the entire slate of TNT dramas saw growth over prior weeks.

Eight million viewers and counting have watched the premiere episode of TNT's new original series Legends. The drama starring Sean Bean has more than tripled the initial Live + Same Day audience for last Wednesday's premiere telecast, with viewers catching the show through their DVRs, VOD, digital on-demand and a pair of Saturday encores.

Major Crimes closed out its summer run by ranking as basic cable's #1 program for the week. The summer finale has so far drawn 7.3 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery (+8% vs. the prior week), including 2.0 million adults 25-54 (+4%) and 1.6 million adults 18-49 (+10%).

Rizzoli & Isles came in second for the week behind Major Crimes in Live + Same Day delivery, but pulled ahead through time-shifted viewing with 7.6 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery (+5% vs. the prior week). In key demos, last week's episode has risen to 2.4 million adults 25-54 (+4%) and 2.0 million adults 18-49 (+3%) in Live + 3.

The Last Ship, the third most-watched drama for the week, scored across-the-board growth with its Aug. 10 episode, with 6.7 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery (+10% vs. the prior week), 2.5 million adults 25-54 (+5%) and 2.0 million adults 18-49 (+3%).

Murder in the First drew 4.8 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for its season finale last Monday (+18% vs. the prior week). In key demos, the show has garnered 1.3 million adults 25-54 (+13%) and 899,000 adults 18-49 (+12%) in Live + 3 delivery.

TNT's summer slate also includes Perception, which has drawn 4.3 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for last Tuesday's episode (+3% vs. the prior week), including 1.5 million adults 25-54 (+9%) and 1.2 million adults 18-49 (+12%). TNT's epic sci-fi drama Falling Skies has grown to 3.9 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for its Aug. 10 episode and 4.7 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery for its Aug. 3 episode. And Franklin & Bash launched its fourth season with more than 2.2 million viewers in Live + 3 for last Wednesday's opener.

On the unscripted front, TNT's real-life investigative series Cold Justice scored strong growth with its season finale Friday night. The show brought in 1.5 million viewers in Live + Same Day delivery, +13% over the prior week, while demos were up by +10% among adults 25-54 and +7% with adults 18-49. Cold Justice has enjoyed strong growth this summer, with 2.3 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery (+21% compared to its winter episodes).

Through the third week of August, TNT continues to rank as basic cable's #1 network in primetime among total viewers for the summer-to-date. TNT's Rizzoli & Isles, Major Crimes and The Last Ship continue to rank as basic cable's Top 3 most-watched scripted series for the summer-to-date. They are joined by Falling Skies, Murder in the First and Perception in giving TNT six of basic cable's Top 10 scripted series this summer. In key demos, TNT's new blockbuster The Last Ship and ongoing hit Rizzoli & Isles lead the pack in giving TNT four of basic cable's Top 5 scripted series this summer with adults 25-54. TNT holds three of the Top 5 scripted series this summer among adults 18-49.

Collectively, TNT's summer originals are bringing in many more viewers than last year. For the summer-to-date, the network's original series are averaging 5.6 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, a +27% increase over the same time last year. Demo deliveries have grown by double-digit percentages, with this summer's TNT originals bringing in +15% more adults 25-54 and +10% more adults 18-49 than last summer.

Cartoon Network

Across the third week of August 2014, Cartoon Network continued to rank as television's #1 network for Early Prime (6-8 p.m.) delivery among targeted boys 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14. The network also ranked #1 among television networks for Total Day delivery of boys 6-11.

Cartoon Network continued to dominate Thursday nights (6-8 p.m.), ranking as the #1 network destination among all kids/boys 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14, increasing delivery across the board by double-digits - ranging from 32% to 70%. Among the highlights, a new episode premiere of Clarence (6:45 p.m.) ranked as the #1 telecast of the day among boys 2-11 & 6-11, while Regular Show (7:30 p.m.) ranked as the #1 telecast of the day among boys 9-14. Both programs charted #1 in their time period among all targeted kid/boy demos. Additionally, a new episode premiere of Teen Titans Go! (6 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among kids 2-11 & 6-11 and all targeted boys, while The Amazing World of Gumball (6:30 p.m.) and Adventure Time (7 p.m.) both ranked #1 in their timeslots among all targeted kids and boys. Overall, every Thursday night telecast earned double and triple-digit gains across targeted demos vs. the same time period last year.

Rounding out the rest of the week, Cartoon Network also ranked as the #1 television network vs. all TV among boys 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14 on Tuesday and Wednesday night (6-8 p.m.), and #1 among boys 6-11 & 9-14 on Monday, Saturday and Sunday Night. Tuesday night's overall performance increased average delivery among kids 2-11 by 8%, kids 6-11 by 12% and boys 6-11 by 5%. Similarly, Wednesday night's performance improved average delivery among kids 2-11 by 24%, kids 6-11 by 14%, kids 9-14 by 1% and boys 2-11 by 4%.

Saturday morning programming (7-11 a.m.) earned year-over-year gains among kids/boys 2-11 & 6-11, ranging from 2% to 27%. A new episode premiere of Pokémon the Series XY (8 a.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among boys 9-14, increasing delivery among kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and all targeted boys between 5% and 69%.

Adult Swim

For the third week of August 2014, Adult Swim again claimed the #1 network ranking on basic cable for weekly Total Day delivery among adults 18-24, 18-34 & 18-49 and men 18-24, 18-34 & 18-49.

Among Adult Swim's original programming, the Thursday night new episode premiere of Aaron McGruder's live-action comedy Black Jesus (11 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among adults 18-24. Additionally, Sunday night's new episode of the Emmy-winning Robot Chicken (11:30 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among all targeted adults/men 18-24, 18-34 & 18-49.

Saturday night's TOONAMI block presentation of Attack on Titans (11:30 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among adults 18-24/18-34 and men 18-34. Bleach (12 a.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among all targeted men, while Space Dandy (12:30 a.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among men 18-24/18-34. A new episode premiere of Gurren Lagann (2 a.m.) ranked #1 in its time period across all targeted adults and men. Naruto: Shippuden (1 a.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among adults and men 18-24/18-34. One Piece (1:30 a.m.), Beware the Batman (2:30 a.m.) and Black Lagoon (3 a.m.) each scored #1 rankings in their respective time periods among adults 18-24 & 18-34 and all targeted men. Black Lagoon also experienced year-to-year growth among adults 18-24/18-34 and all targeted men.

Adult Swim's programming - including Family Guy, Robot Chicken, and Black Jesus - accounted for 29 of the top 50 telecasts on basic cable for the week among adults 18-34, and 34 of the top 50 telecasts among men 18-34, both more than any other network.

TBS

The TBS original sitcom Sullivan & Son drew 1.7 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for Tuesday night's episode. The show scored growth among key demos, averaging 899,000 adults 18-49 (+3% vs. the prior week) and 454,000 adults 18-34 (+22%) in Live + 3 delivery.

The Big Bang Theory on TBS continued to dominate the competition, delivering 15 of basic cable's Top 15 sitcom telecasts for the week among total viewers and 14 of the Top 15 among adults 18-49.