Hot Spots
 ESPN Tackles Top 2011 ‘MNF’ Audience with Dallas-WashingtonESPN’s coverage of the Monday Night Football matchup between the Cowboys and the Redskins tackled a 10.6 U.S. household rating, a 12.3 cable mark, nearly 12.1 million households and 17.1 million viewers, according to Nielsen data. Through its first four games, MNF has averaged an 8.7 U.S. rating, 10.1 cable rating, 9.96 million households and 13.7 million viewers. |
 ‘Rizzoli & Isles’ on Pace to Repeat as Basic Cable’s Most-Watched DramaThe Labor Day episode of TNT’s Rizzoli & Isles built on its already outstanding delivery through time-shifted viewing. Rizzoli & Isles scored a final delivery of more than 9.2 million viewers in Live + 7; the fourth time this season the show eclipsed the 9 million mark. Among demos, the episode grew to 2.6 million Adults 18-49 and 3.5 million Adults 25-54. |
 ‘Sons of Anarchy’ Season 4 Premiere Most-Watched Program in FX HistoryBased on Live+7 ratings, the fourth season premiere of Sons of Anarchy became the most-watched program in the network’s history. The first-run telecast delivered 6.5 million total viewers and 4.3 million Adults 18-49. On a Live+7 comparison, the premiere posted increases of +25% in total viewers and +20% in Adults 18-49 versus the third season premiere. |
 ‘Friday Night Smackdown’ #1 in Cable on Sept. 23WWE Friday Night Smackdown was the # 1 show on cable with 3.25 million total viewers on Friday, September 23. This was the highest-rated Friday episode of Smackdown on Syfy among Adults 18-34 and #2 among Adults 18-49. The 2.1 household rating is up +17% versus last week, garnering 1.35 million Adults 18-49 and 1.36 million Adults 25-54. |
 ‘Sister Wives’ Premiere Attracts 2.8 Million ViewersThe third season premiere of TLC’s hit series Sister Wives delivered huge ratings for the network. The premiere was watched by 2.8 million viewers and delivered the network’s highest ratings in nearly two years among Women 25-54 and Women 18-49 garnering a 2.3 HH, a 2.4 Women 25-54/18-49 and a 2.3 Women 18-34 rating, according to Nielsen data. |
 Lifetime Renews ‘Drop Dead Diva’ For Fourth SeasonLifetime has renewed Drop Dead Diva for a fourth season. The 13-episode order is expected to premiere sometime in 2012. For its current season, Drop Dead Diva has averaged 2.3 million total viewers, 1.2 million Adults 25-54, 973,000 Adults 18-49, 903,000 Women 25-54 and 752,000 Women 18-49. Drop Dead Diva’s third season will conclude on Sunday. |
 ‘Awkward.’ Finale Attracts Over 2.2 Million ViewersThe special one-hour season finale of Awkward. scored a 2.5 rating among Viewers 12-34 and 2.2 million total viewers. The series is MTV’s highest-rated new show to launch in the last two years and its highest-rated scripted show. In its Tuesday 11:00-11:30PM timeslot, it is the #1 television show among Females 12-34. Awkward. will return for a second season in 2012. |
 ‘Hardcore Pawn’ Earns Top 5 SpottruTV’s breakout hit Hardcore Pawn delivered another outstanding performance last week, with more than 1.6 million viewers. The episodes also garnered double- and triple-digit demo growth and ranked among ad-supported cable’s Top 5 entertainment programs for the Tuesday 9:30PM timeslot with Men 18-34, Men 18-49 and total viewers. |
