FX's SONS OF ANARCHY Reaches Series High with Season 5 Premiere

FX's acclaimed hit drama series Sons of Anarchy set new ratings benchmarks last night as the 90-minute Season 5 premiere episode became the most-watched episode in its history (Live+SameDay), and it is likely to be the most-watched single telecast ever on FX when Live+7 data is made available from The Nielsen Company.

The first-run episode of the Sons Season 5 debut (9/11/12, 10-11:30 PM) delivered 5.37 million Total Viewers, 3.5 million Adults 18-49, and 3.45 million Adults 25-54, marking series highs and posting gains of +10% in Total Viewers, +9% in Adults 18-49, and +14% in Adults 25-54 versus its record-setting fourth-season bow. Last night's premiere telecast and two encore runs (11:30 PM and 1 AM) combined to deliver 7.5 million Total Viewers and 4.86 million Adults 18-49.

The Season 5 premiere episode of SOA was television's #1 primetime program (broadcast and cable) in delivery of Men 18-49 (2.15 million) and Men 18-34 (1.18 million). It was cable's #1 program on Tuesday in delivery of Total Viewers, Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Adults 25-54, Men 18-49 and Men 18-34. It also was In addition, it took television's top spot in the 10 PM time period, beating everything on the broadcast networks in Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34 and Adults 25-54.

"It's so rare, especially in the current fragmented environment, to see a show grow into its fifth season," said John Landgraf, President and General Manager, FX Networks. "The fact that the season 5 premiere episode is also likely to become FX's highest rated telecast of all time is a testament to the quality of work Kurt Sutter, the writers, directors, cast and crew have done on this extraordinarily ambitious and riveting drama."

On a Live+Same Day or Live only basis, last night's telecast of SOA ranked as FX's most-watched telecast in its 18-year history in delivery of Men 18-49 (2.15 million) and Men 18-34 (1.18 million).

Previous high ratings (Live+Same Day) for a single episode of Sons of Anarchy were 4.93 million Total Viewers and 3.22 million Adults 18-49, both for the season 4 premiere telecast (9/6/11).

FX has ordered 13 episodes for the fifth season which will air Tuesdays at 10 PM ET/PT. In next Tuesday's second episode, "Authority Vested" (Sept. 18), Jax and SAMCRO are challenged as past sins resurface. (Written by Regina Corrado; directed by Peter Weller).

Sons of Anarchy was created by Kurt Sutter, and is executive produced by Sutter, Paris Barclay John Linson, and Art Linson. The series is produced by Fox 21 and FX Productions.

The series stars Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Ron Perlman, Maggie Siff, Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, Ryan Hurst, Theo Rossi, and Dayton Callie. Guest stars this season include Jimmy Smits, Harold Perrineau, David Labrava, Danny Trejo, Benito Martinez, Rockmond Dunbar, Winter Ave Zoli, Michael Marisi Ornstein, Christopher Douglas Reed, and Chuck Zito.

Sons of Anarchy is an adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones that explores a notorious outlaw motorcycle club's (MC) desire to protect its livelihood while ensuring that their simple, sheltered town of Charming, California remains exactly that, Charming. The MC must confront threats from drug dealers, corporate developers, and overzealous law officers. Behind the MC's familial lifestyle and legally thriving automotive shop is a ruthless and illegally thriving arms business. The seduction of money, power, and blood.

Fox 21 is a Production Company housed within Twentieth Century Fox Television devoted to making creatively ambitious scripted series for the cable television market, as well as unscripted shows for both cable and broadcast networks. Fox 21, led by President Bert Salke, currently co-produces the award-winning cable smash Sons of Anarchy as well as the Golden Globe(R) winning Homeland starring Claire Danes.

FX Productions produces the critically acclaimed hit comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, the upcoming comedy Legit, and the new late night series BrandX with Russell Brand and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. FXP co-produces the award-winning hit drama series Sons of Anarchy and Justified., and the upcoming drama The Americans. FXP currently has production output deals in place with RCG Productions, the Production Company of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Executive Producer/Showrunners Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton, and Floyd County Productions, the Production Company of Archer Executive Producer/Showrunners Adam Reed and Matt Thompson. FXP recently announced a cable exclusive, first-look pact with Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson and their Color Force Production Company, producers of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid feature franchise and The Hunger Games. It was the first POD deal for FX Productions that was not established through a prior existing relationship with the studio.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series Sons of Anarchy and Justified; the miniseries American Horror Story, which earned 17 primetime Emmy(R) Awards, tying for the most nominations of any program this year and the most nominations for a miniseries in basic cable history; the acclaimed hit comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The League, Louie, Archer, Wilfred, BrandX with Russell Brand, and Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. The network's library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX's other offerings include the acquired hit series Two and a Half Men and How I Met Your Mother, and live sports with UFC and NCAA football.

SOURCE: The Nielsen Company (Live+SameDay)