DISCOVERY CHANNEL SETS RATINGS RECORDS IN 1Q17 WITH BEST QUARTER EVER IN P25-54

(Los Angeles) - Discovery Channel had its best quarter in the history of the network during Prime Time in 1Q17 in Persons 25-54 rating. The network owned more top 10 unscripted cable series than any other network across P/M25-54, M18-49, M18-34, and P2+, including 7 of the top 10 in M25-54. And for the second year in a row, Discovery finished 1Q as the #1 non-sports cable network in M25-54.

Discovery owned several of cable's top series across individual nights of the week during 1Q, including the #1 unscripted cable series in M25-54 & M18-49 across 4 nights of the week. Driven by the 4-week Mega Race build (STREET OUTLAWS and FAST N'LOUD crossover episodes) Discovery continues to dominate MOTOR MONDAYS with the 3 top series on Monday nights among M25-54 (with STREET OUTLAWS, FAST N' LOUD and DIESEL BROTHERS). The network hit ratings gold once again with the hit series GOLD RUSH coming in as 1Q17's #1 unscripted cable series across P/M25-54, M18-49, M18-34, and P2+. GOLD RUSH was the quarter's #1 series on all of TV - including scripted - on Friday nights across M25-54, M18-49, and M18-34. And lastly, fan favorite ALASKA: THE LAST FRONTIER delivered the #1 spot on Sunday nights for unscripted in P2+.

Among M25-54, Discovery owned 7 of the top 10 unscripted cable series. Leading the pack was GOLD RUSH (#1) followed by STREET OUTLAWS (#2). Other series wrapping out the top shows on cable included FAST N' LOUD (#4), DIESEL BROTHERS (#5), ALASKAN BUSH PEOPLE (#6), MOONSHINERS (#8), and NAKED AND AFRAID (#9).

Source: The Nielsen Company, L+3 TP-based coverage area data (1Q17 & March 2017 M-Su "best ever" claims are program-based, starts within, excl. breakouts); "best ever" stories based on ratings (2 decimals), net/program ranks & comparisons based on 000s; program rankers excl. breakouts, programs < 5 min, program-level specials, miniseries, sports & sports programming, news, talk shows, and movies/documentaries.