TNT claims basic cable’s Top 3 scripted originals for the week as network wins three nights

By: Robert Prentice
Falling Skies

Via press release

TNT claimed basic cable’s Top 3 scripted originals for the week, with Dallas, Falling Skies and Rizzoli & Isles leading the pack among total viewers and adults 25-54.

Propelled by the strength of its hit summer series, TNT ranked as basic cable’s #1 network in primetime three nights last week. TNT took the top spot on Tuesday, which included new episodes of Rizzoli & Isles and Franklin & Bash; Wednesday, which featured the launch of Dallas, the #1 scripted series premiere for the year-to-date; and Sunday, which included the two-hour season premiere of Falling Skies. TNT was also strong among key adult demos, winning Wednesday and Sunday primetime with adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

On Tuesday, Rizzoli & Isles drew more than 5.1 million viewers in Live + Same Day, growing to 6.8 million viewers in Live + 3. The blockbuster series also scored 1.2 million adults 18-49 in Live + Same Day (1.9 million L+3) and 1.7 million adults 25-54 (2.5 million L+3). It was followed by a new episode of the light-hearted legal drama Franklin & Bash, which brought in 2.9 million viewers in Live + Same Day, growing to more than 4 million in Live + 3. Among key adult demos, Franklin & Bash averaged 865,000 adults 18-49 (1.6 million L+3) and 1.1 million adults 25-54 (1.8 million L+3).

Wednesday night’s premiere of TNT’s new series Dallas burst out of the gate with 6.9 million viewers in Live + Same Day, a figure that has already ballooned to 7.8 million viewers in Live + 3. The two-hour launch, which currently ranks as basic cable’s most-watched scripted series premiere for the year-to-date, also garnered 1.9 million adults 18-49 in Live + Same Day (2.4 million L+3) and 2.5 million adults 25-54 (3.0 million L+3).

Sunday night, the second season of Falling Skies got off to a strong start, wrangling 4.5 million viewers in Live + Same Day. Among key demos, the two-hour premiere averaged 1.9 million adults 18-49 and 2.2 million adults 25-54.

TNT also enjoyed strength from the network television premiere of Sherlock Holmes, which drew 2.3 million viewers Saturday at 8 p.m.; 1.9 million viewers Saturday at 10:30 p.m.; and 2.3 million viewers on Sunday. The three telecasts accounted for basic cable’s Top 3 movie presentations for the week among adults 25-54.

On the sports front, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s win at the Quicken Loans 400 capped the second race in the TNT NASCAR Summer Series six-race schedule, delivering a 3.2 U.S. household rating (+10% vs. 2011). The race was cable’s most-watched and highest-rated program of the day (June 17), with a total of 5.3 million viewers and 3.7 million households. Through the first two races in the 2012 TNT NASCAR Summer Series, the network is averaging a 3.3 U.S. household rating (+6% vs. 2011).

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