Discovery Channel Delivers Highest-Rated First Half of the Year Ever

Discovery Channel dominated ratings during the second quarter and first half of the year. Discovery had its highest-rated first half of the year ever on Wednesdays in P25-54 with the help of ALASKAN BUSH PEOPLE and its 2nd-highest-rated first half of the year on Mondays across P/M 25-54 and P/M 18-49. For the first half of 2017, the network ranked as the #1 cable network in M25-54 and M18-49 (excl. sports) and claimed more top 10 unscripted cable series than any other network across P/M25-54, M18-49, M18-34, and P2+. GOLD RUSH: PARKER'S TRAIL topped the ratings as the year's #1 new unscripted cable series in M25-54.

GOLD RUSH finished the first half of 2017 as the #1 series on all of tv -including scripted- on Friday nights across M25-54, M18-49, P18-34 and M18-34. Discovery continued its rating streak, owning 2Q17's top 5 unscripted cable series in M25-54 with #1 STREET OUTLAWS, #2 DEADLIEST CATCH, #3 NAKED AND AFRAID, #4 NAKED AND AFRAID XL, and #5 GOLD RUSH: PARKER's TRAIL.

The network also scored its 2nd-highest rated 2Q ever on Mondays across P/M 25-54 and P/M 18-49 with MEGA RACE and STREET OUTLAWS. Fan favorite STREET OUTLAWS topped the ratings as cable's #1 series in M25-54 and M18-49.

The network also owned more top 10 unscripted cable series than any other network during 2Q in M18-49 with #1 STREET OUTLAWS, #3 DEADLIEST CATCH, #9 NAKED AND AFRAID XL and #10 NAKED AND AFRAID.

Source: The Nielsen Company, L+3 TP-based coverage area data (CY16 to-date #1 network claim is program-based, strict daypart, excl. breakouts, with sports manually excluded); "best ever" stories based on ratings (2 decimals), net/program ranks & comparisons based on 000s; program rankers excl. single TC, repeats, breakouts, programs < 5 min, specials, sports & sports programming, and (when noted) talk shows. "Sports nets"=air sports during all or nearly all of Prime.