WE: Women’s Entertainment announced today that its original special, Women on Death Row, which debuted Monday, January 9 at 8pm ET, ranks as the highest rated special in the network’s history. Returning a 0.65 HH RTG, Women on Death Row replaced the Charles & Camilla’s Wedding Day: A WE Exclusive as the top rated original premiere ever for WE, with W18-49 delivery (141K) +182% higher than the W18-49 delivery for the Charles & Camilla Wedding Special. The strong rating and W18-49 delivery for Women on Death Row placed the special above network competitors Lifetime Movie Network, Oxygen and Style at the 8pm ET time slot on January 9. Following the premiere of Women on Death Row was another original special premiere that brought in strong ratings for WE – Other Side of the Cell.
Since joining the network just over one year ago, WE General Manager and Executive Vice President Kim Martin has focused intensely on increasing the network’s original programming. In addition to three live specials in 2005, Martin greenlit an additional 11 original specials to air on the network, including Tammy Faye: Death Defying, Katrina Weddings: A Second Chance and the formerly highest rated original special Charles & Camilla’s Wedding Day: A WE Exclusive. Overall, 2005 saw 64% more originals on WE compared to 2004.
Women on Death Row is a two-hour special that explores the lives and circumstances surrounding five female death row inmates. Burrud Productions produced the special.
**Source: Nielsen Media Research, WE: Women’s Entertainment 1/9/06 telecast of Women on Death Row from 8p-10p, compared to Oxygen, Style and LMN HH ratings and W18-49 audience on the same date and time.
**Source: Nielsen Media Research, Comparison of 2004 (12/29/03-12/26/04) vs. 2005 (12/27/04-12/25/05) Total Day (M-Su 10a-5a) original telecasts; 2005 Prime (M-Su 8p-11p) original telecasts vs 2005 Prime total telecasts.