TBS Finishes as Basic Cable's #1 Network of 2012 with Adults 18-34 in Primetime

With the final week of 2012 complete, TBS now officially reigns as basic cable's #1 network of the year with adults 18-34 in primetime. In achieving its victory, TBS scored exceptional growth across the board.

TBS finished 2012 on a high note, topping basic cable for the final week of the year with adults 18-34 and adults 18-49 in primetime.

Driving TBS's big success last week was the annual 24 Hours of A CHRISTMAS STORY, which celebrated its 16th anniversary with round-the-clock holiday cheer on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The marathon opened Christmas Eve at 8 p.m. with 4.9 million viewers, making it basic cable's most-watched entertainment program last week. In addition, the Christmas Eve 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. presentations ranked as basic cable's Top 2 programs last week with adults 18-49 (2.6 million at 8 p.m.; 2.5 million at 10 p.m.).

Overall, the 2012 edition of TBS's 24 Hours of A Christmas Story averaged 3 million viewers, with 762,000 adults 18-34 and 1.6 million adults 18-49. For the entire 24-hour period (Christmas Eve 8 p.m. - Christmas Day 8 p.m.), TBS ranked as basic cable's #1 network among viewers, adults 18-34 and adults 18-49.

Adult Swim
Adult Swim's Total Day performance across December 2012 ranked #1 among adults 18-24, 18-34 & 18-49, as well as men 18-24 & 18-34 on basic cable (#2 among men 18-49 behind ESPN). Compared to December 2011, average Total Day delivery grew across adults 18-24 by 12%, adults 18-34 by 1%, adults 18-49 by 3% and men 18-24 by 5%.

Throughout December, Adult Swim ranked among the Top 5 basic cable networks in Prime Time (Broadcast definition) delivery of adults 18-34. Compared to the same 2011 time period, average Prime Time delivery grew among targeted young adults and men - adults 18-24 by 18%, adults 18-34 by 7%, adults 18-49 by 10%, men 18-24 by 11% and men 18-34 by 1%.

Premiere episodes of original stop-motion animated series Robot Chicken (Sundays, 12 a.m.) ranked #1 in the time period among both adults & men 18-24/18-34, increasing ratings and delivery by double and triple digits across the board, ranging between 30% and 100% vs. the same time period last year. Superjail (Sundays, 12:15 a.m.) scored as the #1 program in its time period on basic cable among adults 18-34 - also increasing average delivery of all targeted adult and male demos by double digits, ranging between 15% and 60%.

Adult Swim programming accounted for 14 of the Top 50 telecasts on basic cable in December among adults 18-34, more than any other network.

TNT
TNT cemented its position as television's destination for original drama in 2012. The network's scripted originals collectively averaged 5.6 million viewers for the year, more than any other cable network. TNT also claimed six of basic cable's Top 15 original series in 2012, with The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, Major Crimes, Perception, Dallas and Falling Skies all making the list. In addition, Major Crimes, Perception and Dallas ranked as basic cable's Top 3 new series of the year.

TNT enjoyed double-digit growth in primetime for the fourth quarter of 2012, with increases among total viewers (+10%), adults 18-49 (+18%) and adults 25-54 (+13%) when compared to Q4 2011.

Last week, TNT's hit series Rizzoli & Isles closed out its third season on Christmas with more than 4.4 million viewers, a +29% boost over the prior week's episode. In key demos, the season finale drew 1.1 million adults 18-49 and 1.3 million adults 25-54, both +18% over the previous week. Rizzoli & Isles is slated to return for its fourth season in summer 2013.

TNT's caper drama Leverage ended its five-year run with more than 3 million viewers on Christmas, including 877,000 adults 18-49 and more than 1.1 million adults 25-54.

Cartoon Network
Across December 2012, Cartoon Network ranked as television's #1 destination among boys 6-11 & 9-14 on Friday and Monday Nights (7-9 p.m.). Friday night's average ratings and delivery grew by double digits across the board, compared with December 2011 - kids 2-11 delivery grew by 54%, kids 6-11 by 60% and kids 9-14 also by 60%.

Original animated comedy Regular Show (Monday, 8 p.m.) scored as the #1 program on all television on Mondays among boys 6-11 & 9-14, and #1 in its time period among boys 2-11. Similarly, Adventure Time (Monday, 7:30 p.m.) was the #1 program in its time period among all boys 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14.

On Tuesday nights, original series The Amazing World of Gumball (7 p.m.) charted ratings and delivery gains across all kid demos in December - kids 2-11 ratings grew by 5%, kids 6-11 by 19% and kids 9-14 by 53%.

truTV
Continuing its trend of successfully attracting a younger audience, truTV wrapped up 2012 by earning its youngest yearly primetime median age ever (42). In addition, truTV's Q4 2012 median age (39) was the network's youngest quarterly figure ever, while its December 2012 median age (39) was the network's youngest monthly figure.

Closing out the year with a bang, truTV ranked as one of basic cable's Top 10 entertainment networks last week in primetime delivery of adults 18-49 (564,000) and adults 18-34 (258,000).

Impractical Jokers (Thursday at 10 p.m.) drew its biggest audience to date last week, with a total of 2 million viewers. In addition, the show ranked among basic cable's Top 5 programs in its timeslot with total viewers and key adult and male demos.

Hardcore Pawn (Tuesday at 9:30 p.m.) scored 2.6 million viewers last week and ranked among basic cable's top 5 programs in the timeslot with key adult and male demos.

Full Throttle Saloon (Wednesday at 9 p.m.) attracted more than 1.5 million viewers last week and was a Top 5 performer in its time period with men 18-49.

NBA TV
Through the first two months of the 2012-13 NBA regular season, NBA TV has recorded its most-viewed telecast ever (Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10/31/12 - 868,000 total viewers) and its two most-viewed NBA Fan Night presented by Sprint telecasts of all time (San Antonio Spurs vs. Lakers, Nov. 13, and Brooklyn Nets vs. Lakers, Nov. 20). The network's original programming has also seen considerable increases. NBA TV's critically acclaimed Open Court has averaged 139,000 total viewers through five telecasts this season, up 74% compared to last year. Additionally, through five episodes of The Association featuring the Brooklyn Nets, the series is up 53% among total viewers compared to last year's episodes.