Series Premiere Generates .98 HH Rating, Network’s Highest-Rated Original Premiere Ever; New Episode Immediately Following Earns 1.08 HH Rating
More Than 1.2 Million Viewers Tuned-In, Marking Network’s Most Watched Telecasts Ever
New York, NY – September 9, 2008 – WE tv originals continue to break network records with the network’s newest series The Locator, which premiered Saturday night at 9:00 PM ET, drawing in a .98 HH rating, making it the highest-rated premiere episode for an original WE tv series. A new second episode, which aired immediately following the premiere at 9:30 PM, generated a 1.08 HH rating for the network. Total audience reach for The Locator was 1.2 MM viewers.
"This is an amazing accomplishment and a result of the hard work and dedication of everyone here at WE tv, and the devoted cast of this incredibly powerful show," said Kim Martin, EVP and general manager for WE tv. "WE tv has achieved unstoppable original programming success this year from High School Confidential to Bridezillas, and now The Locator joins our impressive roster of hit original series."
Featuring Troy Dunn, aka "The Locator," who has spent the past 15 years searching for and successfully locating thousands of missing people, this series takes viewers through heart-warming, and sometimes wrenching, tales of regret, loss, reunion and closure as each episode follows Troy piecing together the puzzles of missing-person mysteries. In each of the series’ 10 half-hour episodes, Troy personally selects one particularly dire or time-sensitive "angel" case and sets out to locate the missing person. All locating services are provided free of charge. Navigating around roadblocks and dead-ends, Troy and his team use interviews, photos, and video clips to begin to uncover clues that lead them in the right direction.
The success of The Locator follows a number of significant WE tv ratings successes, including the premiere of its critically-acclaimed High School Confidential (.93 HH rating) and the fifth season premiere of the network’s hit series Bridezillas (.84 HH rating). WE tv ended the second quarter of 2008 the strongest quarter in the network’s history with soaring viewership on-air, on demand and online. WE tv also saw significant gains among all of its key demographics and continues to outpace its competitive set in percentage growth among key demographics. WE tv ranks number one in W18-34 (+52%) and W18-49 (+45%) delivery growth, making it the "fastest growing cable network" for these younger demos, in Prime).
Source: Nielsen Media Research, Live Data; Prime M-Su 8p-11p, % change in W18-34 and W18-49 (000s) for 2008 YTD (12/31/07-8/31/08) vs. 2007 YTD (1/1/07-9/2/07), excludes networks that are in less that 65 million HHs (as of Sep08) & sports/news networks; "The Locator" Live SD (9/6/08, 9p-10p) compared to all programs and premieres on WE tv. NPower program based reach and frequency schedule, 9/6/08, pp-10p on WE tv, based on a 6 minute qualifier, 75 percent unification, P2+ (000). Subject to qualifications made available upon request.
About WE tv
WE tv (www.WEtv.com) is the premier source for women looking to satisfy their curiosity with fascinating, original stories and entertaining, informative content that is relevant to key stages of their lives. Available in nearly 72 million homes, WE tv’s programming gives viewers compelling perspectives on women’s lives that range from provocative to extraordinary, including signature series like "Bridezillas" and critically-acclaimed original documentary series such as "High School Confidential." WE tv’s public affairs initiative, WE Empowers Women, is dedicated to creating programs that foster and celebrate women’s strength, confidence and diversity. The initiative’s current focus is its WE Vote ’08 campaign. WE tv is available in HD and WE tv On Demand is available in 20 million homes. WE tv is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media’s NYC studios and post-production facilities.