USA Network's special presentation of Schindler's List reached a record audience on Saturday, February 23 at 8/7c, garnering 3.2 million viewers, 1.2 million P25-54 and 1.1 million P18-49, and earning it the distinction as the top movie of the day in basic cable. The airing of this Epic drama coincides with USA's third Characters Unite Month, and is part of USA's Characters Unite Quarterly Film Series, which highlights classic films addressing social injustices. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Schindler's List, tells an extraordinary true story of courage and faith that continues to inspire, and was presented commercial-free with a new, personal introduction by the film's Oscar-winning director, Steven Spielberg.
Schindler's List is USA's top Characters Unite movie thus far, and builds on USA's first classic in the series, To Kill a Mockingbird (April 2012), +49% in P18-49 and +29% in P25-54 and up +16% in total viewers. It also improved on the performance of The Color Purple (November 2012) +37% in P18-49, +47% in P25-54 and +57% in total viewers. In Press Prime on Saturday night, USA was the #1 cable network among total viewers, performing ahead of all of the broadcast networks among P18-49 and P18-34. USA jumped +28% in P18-49, +30% in P25-54 and +48% in total viewers compared to the prior four week time-period average for Saturday Press Prime.
"We launched the film series to use the power of storytelling to highlight past injustices and inspire positive change for the future," said
Bonnie Hammer, Chairman, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. "The incredible response we received for all the films, especially 'Schindler's List,' shows that these important stories continue to resonate, decades after their release, and effectively promote tolerance and acceptance."
With its initial release in 1993, Schindler's List rapidly became one of the most honored films of all time, garnering twelve Academy Award(R) nominations and taking home seven Oscars(R), including Best Picture and Best Director for Spielberg. Adapted from the novel by
Thomas Keneally,
Steven Spielberg's masterful film tells the incredible true story of the courageous Oskar Schindler (
Liam Neeson). Initially a member of the Nazi party, the Catholic Schindler risks his career and life to employ and save over 1,100 Jews in his factory during the Holocaust. Schindler's Jewish accountant (
Ben Kingsley) serves as his conscience, as Schindler conducts business with a cruel Nazi commander (
Ralph Fiennes). Filmed entirely in black-and-white on location in Poland, Schindler's List does not downplay the faults of its magnanimous and unlikely hero, but relates a story of the triumph of the human spirit in
The Face of horrific devastation and tragedy.
Characters Unite,
USA Network's award-winning public service campaign was created to address the social injustices and cultural divides still prevalent in our society. Inspired by
USA Network's iconic "Characters Welcome" brand and with the support of leading national nonprofit organizations, the ongoing campaign is dedicated to combating prejudice, discrimination and intolerance while promoting understanding and acceptance -- on-air, online and in communities around the country. For more additional information and resources, please visit http://www.charactersunite.com.
About
USA Network
The #1 network in all of basic cable for seven consecutive years,
USA Network is seen in over 102 million U.S. homes.
USA is a leader in scripted programming with a powerful stable of originals, spectacular live television and is home to the best in blockbuster theatrical films, a broad portfolio of acquired series and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling,
USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV.
USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. The award-winning website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.
