Skip to

  1. Skip to navigation
  2. Skip to content

Programming News

Discovery's U.S. Networks Continue to Attract Audiences in August

Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Science Channel and Military Channel all experienced strong August 2009 ratings growth across multiple demographics.

All Primetime Data Based on August 2009 vs. August 2008 and Among All Ad-Supported Cable Unless Otherwise Noted

Discovery Channel

  • #1 cable network on Tuesdays in M25-54 and #2 in M18-49
  • #1 cable network on Wednesdays in M18-49 and M18-34
  • Top three cable programs in M25-54 on Tuesdays with premieres of DEADLIEST CATCH, THE COLONY and SWORDS
  • "Discovery Sundays," the Sunday night block dedicated to specials, debuted with four successful installments of RAGING PLANET, averaging more than 1.3M P2+ per episode, experiencing double-digits increases in key demos vs. year-ago timeslots
  • DEADLIEST CATCH's fifth season was the best ever among M/W25-54, P/M/W18-49 and M18-34; it was also the #1 non-sports cable program on Tuesdays in P/M25-54 and P/M18-49
  • Significant double-digit gains in all key demos:
    • P2+: +12% (1.217k vs. 1.090k)
    • P25-54: +22% (650k vs. 534k)
    • M25-54: +27% (414k vs. 325k)
    • P18-49: +15% (656k vs. 571k)
    • M18-49: +16% (415k vs. 358k)


TLC

  • Best August ever in delivery for W18-34
  • Highest Thursday primetime delivery in network history among all key demos
  • Top 5 primetime network in W18-34/49, and top ten in W25-54 and W35-54
  • New series are resonating with viewers: 
    • The first season of CAKE BOSS experienced an average delivery of 1.6M P2+, and ranked #2 among all ad-supported cable in P2+, HH, P25-54/18-49 and W25-54/18-49
    • POLICE WOMEN OF BROWARD COUNT has garnered an average premiere delivery of 1.8M P2+
  • Double-digit gains across the board in key demos:
    • P2+: +41% (1093k vs. 774k)
    • P25-54: +40% (545k vs. 390k)
    • W25-54: +44% (375k vs. 260k)
    • W18-49: +46% (396k vs. 271k)
    • P18-49: +41% (564k vs. 400k)


Animal Planet

  • Best August in seven years in total day and in three years in primetime in P25-54/18-49
  • 11th consecutive month of year-over-year primetime gains in P/M25-54 and 18-49
  • WHALE WARS (the second best performing series in network history) averaged 1.075M P2+ in season 2, ranking among the top five in its timeslot (Fridays at 9 PM) in P/M 25-54 (excludes movies and sports)
  • The season 2 finale of WHALE WARS (8/21) was the most-watched telecast in 3Q09 to-date in HH (877k) and P2+ (1.33M)
  • Increases across the board in key demos:
    • P25-54: +13% (240k vs. 212k)
    • M25-54: +26% (122k vs. 97k)
    • W25-54: +3% (119k vs. 115k)
    • P18-49: +16% (229k vs. 197k)


Investigation Discovery

  • August marks 19 consecutive months of year-over-year gains in HHs, and the best August ever in HH, P2+, P25-54 and W25-54
  • Increases in all key demos:
    • P2+: +20% (215k vs. 179k)
    • P25-54: +13% (106k vs. 57k)
    • W25-54: +21% (69k vs. 57k)
    • HH: +23% (179k vs. 146k)


Science Channel

  • 12th consecutive month of year-over-year growth in P2+, HHs and P18-34; 11th consecutive month in W25-54; 9th consecutive month in P/M25-54 and P/M/W18-49
  • Year-to-date, Science Channel is the fastest growing network in HH (excludes kids)
  • Increases in all key demos:
    • P2+: +25% (162k vs. 130k)
    • P25-54: +7% (74k vs. 69k)
    • M25-54: +4% (51k vs. 49k)
    • P18-49: +13% (69k vs. 61k)
    • M18-49: +7% (48k vs. 45k)
    • HH: +29% (125k vs. 97k)


Military Channel

  • August marks 37 months of consecutive year-over-year growth in HHs; fifth month in P2+ and P/M25-54
  • Best August ever among P/M25-54 and P/M18-49 delivery
  • Double-digit increases across the board:
    • P2+: +22% (140k vs. 115k)
    • P25-54: +22% (61k vs. 50k)
    • M25-54: +26% (49k vs. 39k)
    • P18-49: +32% (49k vs. 37k)
    • M18-49: +39% (39k vs. 28k)
    • HH: +21% (115k vs. 95k)

 
Discovery Communications, Inc.
September 2, 2009