Series’ Fifth Season Premiere Generates 0.8 HH Rating, Network’s Highest-Rated Premiere for its Signature Original Bridal Series; Draws 1 Million Total Viewers
Marks Network’s Best Season Premiere of an Original Series for Key Demo Deliveries
WE tv’s Originals Continue to Bring Record Ratings Growth to the Network
New York, NY – June 3, 2008 – In the midst of a year that has brought the network record-breaking ratings and buzz, WE tv’s premiere of its fifth season of hit series Bridezillas drew a 0.8 HH rating Sunday night, making it the highest-rated premiere episode for the original series and drawing the network’s highest delivery for a premiere among Women 18-34 (234K), Women 18-49 (408K), Women 25-54 (316K). This overall HH rating reflects a 21% increase compared to the network’s previous Bridezillas season premiere. Total audience reach for the series premiere was 1.05 MM viewers. Coupled with two encore airings Sunday night, the series premiered with a cumulative 1.5 HH rating.
Season five of WE tv’s acclaimed series Bridezillas, which has generated some of the network’s most-watched telecasts, consists of 22 one-hour episodes, which premiered Sunday, June 1st at 9:00 PM (ET/PT). The series reveals for viewers the outrageousness and hilarity which can ensue as a woman journeys from "will you marry me?" to "I do"-in short, the transformation from a bride-to-be into a Bridezilla! In season five, Bridezillas continue to take the world by storm – shocking family, friends and fianc?s in order to make their storybook weddings come true. While nothing will prevent them from achieving their perfect day, this season, the Bridezillas face some serious competition when their families fight back!
Marking "Bridezillas’" fifth anniversary, WE tv will "Go Bridal" every Sunday night all year long with its new WE Go Bridal programming block, which is also home to the returning series Platinum Weddings and Wedding Central.
"We are thrilled to see our enormously popular Bridezillas series once again break network rating records. This series has a great following and we’re excited to bring it to even more viewers this season," said Kim Martin, EVP and GM for WE tv. "Since we launched this series in 2004 we’ve seen incredible growth season over season and we look forward to continuing our commitment to original bridal programming that has made WE tv the go-to network for all things bridal."
This season premiere of Bridezillas also sent traffic soaring on the network’s recently-relaunched website. With interactive applications such as "Bridezilla Me" enabling visitors to create their own personal Bridezilla videos, as well as episode sneak peeks, games, quizzes and more, www.WEtv.com’s page views nearly doubled the day of and day following the premiere as compared to the previous month’s traffic, according to Omniture. Nearly 51% of video plays on WE tv’s website were about Bridezillas or in the bridal category on the day of the premiere, according to Brightcove. The success of Bridezillas comes on the heels of a number of significant WE tv ratings successes, and the network’s most successful quarter ever driven by record-breaking performances of WE tv originals. In March, WE tv premiered is critically-acclaimed series High School Confidential, which generated the highest HH rating premiere for an original series in the network’s history. Also, recent premieres of "Women Behind Bars" and "Women On Death Row 3" broke network rating records for original series or original special premieres, which were surpassed this week by the new season of Bridezillas. WE tv also saw significant gains among all of its key demographics and outpaced its competitive set in percentage growth among key demographics.
Source: Nielsen Media Research, Live Data. Premiere of "Bridezillas" (6/1/08, 9p-10p) compared to all original series/special premieres on WE tv. Encore telecasts: 6/1/08 11p & 1a. Previous Bridezillas premieres: Season 4 – 6/17/07 9p, Season 3 – 6/11/06 10p, Season 2 – 6/12/05 10p, Season 1 – 6/7/04, 10p. NPower program based reach and frequency schedule, 6/1/08, 9p-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 is the content destination where strong, confident women connect to fun, entertaining programming focused on pop culture, personal style and relationships. With quality original programming including the hit series "Bridezillas," unique movie packages like "Cinematherapy," topical specials and its public affairs initiative WE Empowers Women, the network supports women and appeals to their interests. WE tv is a subsidiary of Rainbow Entertainment Services and is currently seen in over 69 million homes.
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, 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.