USA is pacing to win 3Q13 for an eighth consecutive third quarter in all key demos, as well an unprecedented 29th consecutive quarter as the #1 ad-supported cable entertainment network in prime among total viewers, beating the nearest competitor by double-digits in that demo.
USA was the #1 ad-supported cable network for the eighth third quarter in a row among P18-49 (1.12 million, +13% more than #2 TBS), P25-54 (1.16 million, +22% more than #2 TBS) and total viewers (2.97 million, +18% more than #2 DSNY) for 3Q13. USA also delivered the quarter’s top P18-34 audience (554,000, +3% more than #2 TBS).
3Q13 marks the 29th consecutive quarter that USA has been the #1 ad-supported cable entertainment network in total viewers.
USA’s win was driven by the network’s powerful slate of originals – Suits, Burn Notice, GRACELAND, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs and Necessary Roughness – each averaging over 3 million total viewers, 1.5 million P25-54, 1 million P18-49 and half a million P18-34, as well as the mighty WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW and the most-watched “off-net” series on cable, NCIS and LAW & ORDER: Special Victims Unit.
Freshman drama GRACELAND was one of the top new scripted shows on cable in P18-49 for the summer, as well as television’s top scripted series with original episodes Thursdays in P18-34. When the show aired on Thursdays at 10pm, USA was behind only ABC and NBC in all of television in delivering P18-49, P25-54 and P18-34 as well as being the most watched network on cable in total viewers.
The Emmy-award nominated drama Burn Notice had USA’s second most watched series finale ever (only behind MONK), among P18-49, P25-54 and total viewers.
WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW continued to dominate in 3Q13 averaging over 2 million in the demos and nearly 4.5 million total viewers.
NCIS and LAW & ORDER: Special Victims Unit were the top two acquired dramas in prime this summer and the only ones to deliver over 2 million total viewers (NCIS 2.59 million / SVU 2.08 million) as well as being the #1 acquired dramas for P18-49 (649,000 / 783,000), P25-54 (775,000 / 756,000) and P18-34 (279,000 / 443,000).
USA’s fourth quarter brings the season five premiere of White Collar on its new night and time, Thursday, October 17 at 9/8, as well as the final six episodes of Covert Affairs season four, also on its new night and time at 10/9c. On Friday, November 1, just in time for the holidays, the reality series event IT TAKES A CHOIR premieres, hosted by the dapper and charismatic British sensation Gareth Malone. And on Sunday, December 15, a holiday treat that fans of the hit show Psych have been highly anticipating, a special two-hour Psych: THE MUSICAL.
Note: Data reflect time period data with the most current combination of Live+7 (7/1-9/8), Live+3 (9/9-9/18) and Live+SD (9/19-9/21); program data are the most current combination of Live+7 (7/1-9/8) and Live+SD (9/9-9/19). Exception: Burn Notice 2nd best series finale claim LS.
Source: USA press release, 9/23/13