Blockbuster Series Solidify Chart-Topping Positions
Robust DVR usage has pushed the season premiere of Rizzoli & Isles to 8.7 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, while the launch of The Last Ship has grown to 7.7 million viewers in Live + 7. The success cements the chart-topping positions for both shows, with Rizzoli & Isles ranking as basic cable’s #1 summer series among total viewers and The Last Ship sailing high as basic cable’s #1 summer series among key adult demos and cable’s #1 new series for the year-to-date.
Time-shifted viewing scored big deliveries for TNT’s entire slate of summer dramas, including Major Crimes, which drew 6.5 million viewers in Live + 7 for its June 16 episode; Falling Skies, which grabbed 5.9 million viewers in Live + 7 for its June 22 installment; and Murder in the First, which drew 4.9 million viewers in Live + 7 for its June 16 episode.
With the latest data included, TNT now claims six of basic cable’s Top 10 summer series, including all Top 3:
#1 Rizzoli & Isles: 6.5 million viewers for the summer-to-date (Live + 7 blended)
#2 The Last Ship: 6.2 million viewers
#3 Major Crimes: 5.9 million viewers
Falling Skies: 4.5 million viewers
Murder in the First: 3.9 million viewers
Perception: 3.5 million viewers
TNT also claims four of basic cable’s Top 5 summer series with adults 25-54:
#1 The Last Ship: 2.3 million adults 25-54
Rizzoli & Isles: 2.0 million adults 25-54
Falling Skies: 1.9 million adults 25-54
Major Crimes: 1.7 million adults 25-54
And among adults 18-49, TNT now holds three of the Top 5 spots:
#1 The Last Ship: 1.9 million adults 18-49
Falling Skies: 1.6 million adults 18-49
Rizzoli & Isles: 1.6 million adults 18-49
TNT summer dramas are pulling in significant portions of their audiences through time-shifted viewing. DVR usage brought the season premiere of Rizzoli & Isles an additional 2.9 million viewers over its Live + Same Day delivery, while The Last Ship increased its premiere delivery by 2.4 million viewers. Here’s a rundown of how TNT’s summer dramas are shaping up in terms of time-shifted viewing:
Rizzoli & Isles: +2.9 million viewers in Live + 7 vs. Live + Same Day
The Last Ship: +2.4 million viewers
Falling Skies: +2.2 million viewers
Major Crimes: +2.0 million viewers
Murder in the First: +1.8 million viewers
Perception: +1.8 million viewers
