Page Views, Unique Visitors, Video Plays and Downloads Reach All-Time High
Network Continues Stellar Momentum as the Voice of Independent Culture
New York, NY – September 4, 2007 – IFC announced today record-breaking numbers and growth percentages for IFC.com, as the cable network continues its stellar momentum as the voice of independent culture. The exclusive online broadcast of Trapped in the Closet Chapters 13-22 on IFC.com, the latest installment of R. Kelly's mega-hit urban operetta, achieved more than 4.1 million page views and over 1.1 daily unique visitors, increasing monthly unique visitors to the website 1,1040% from August 2006. Viewer demand reached an all-time high, with more than 2 million video plays, and 6 million total minutes downloaded.
The acquisition of R. Kelly's Trapped in the Closet is a reflection of IFC's focus on original programming and overall new direction towards being not only the voice of independent film, but also independent culture and thought. As part of this vision, IFC continues to develop its original programming slate, including the recent acquisitions of Seasons 1 and 2 of The Whitest Kids U Know and brand new seasons of the hit original series The Business and Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman, helping unique content and projects that are in line with the network's uncut, uncensored environment find an audience.
"This is a historic moment for IFC. 'Trapped in the Closet' is cable's first online hit series," said Evan Shapiro, General Manager of IFC. "The buzz and audience this online event has generated, in this summer of huge cable shows, is proof that the programming paradigm has forever changed, and that IFC has found a new way to program for the new generation of On Demand viewers. We look forward to the continued growth of our website as we launch new, significant programming initiatives for IFC.com in the coming months."
Following are highlights of IFC.com's performance during the Trapped in the Closet online programming event, from August 13-August 23:
- 4,109,034 page views, an increase of 675% from the same time period in August 2006;
- 1,162,901 daily unique visitors, an increase of 1,174% since August 2006;
- 2,004,194 video plays;
- 6.0 million minutes downloaded;
- Viewership steadily grew throughout the online broadcast, with the number of page views peaking on Thursday, August 23 at 463,591;
- Unique visitors to the site increased 300% since the episodes debuted;
- 823,965 monthly unique visitors, an increase of 1,040% since August 2006.
Trapped in the Closet is one in a series of new additions to IFC.com, as the network continues to utilize its website as a medium for series premieres and original content. Other recent successes for the site include IFC's first original web series, Getting Away with Murder, which helped increase monthly unique viewers 144% in May 2007, as well as the "50 Greatest Sex Scenes in Cinema," an online poll and partnership with nerve.com that complimented the August 1 premiere of the documentary mini-series, Indie Sex.
Filled with over-the-top characters and complex story lines, Trapped in the Closet first became a cultural phenomenon in 2005 with Chapters 1-12. Beginning Monday, August 13, IFC added one of 10 all-new episodes daily to www.ifc.com/Trapped, featuring brand new characters and bizarre plot twists. The record-setting numbers for IFC.com are a strong lead up to IFC's television premiere of the entire series as a feature film on Friday, September 7 at 9pm followed by the half-hour IFC News Special: Exclusive Interview with R. Kelly at 10:30pm.
About IFC:
The Independent Film Channel (IFC) is the first and most widely distributed network dedicated to independent film 24 hours a day, uncut, uncensored and commercial free. The network is part of IFC Companies – the only brand to operate in every area of independent film to include television, production, financing, distribution, digital, on-demand and exhibition. IFC Companies uses its unique cross-platform position to broaden the audience of independent film and to provide independent filmmakers with a strong voice. IFC Companies is a division 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, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. Through its IFC Entertainment division, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a theatrical feature film distribution company; IFC First Take/IFC in Theaters, a day and date theatrical feature film/VOD initiative; the IFC Center in New York City; IFC Productions, a feature film production company; and IFC Entertainment, which owns and operates a film library. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company, and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.