‘Paranormal’ Marks A&E’s Top Premiere Since 2004
Some 2.4 Million Viewers Have Sightings; Net's Best Since ‘Dog’ Debut
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 12/12/2007 10:51:00 AM
A&E Network may have uncovered a new ratings hit.
The premiere of real-life show Paranormal State Monday night became the service’s highest-rated series across all key demos since Dog The Bounty Hunter bowed in August 2004, according to network officials.
The Dec.10 debut episode at 10 p.m. averaged a 1.8 household rating and 2.5 total viewers, including 1.6 million 18-to-49 watchers and 1.5 million of the 25-to-54 set, according to Nielsen Media Research data.
The second installment of Paranormal State, which chronicles the case files of the Paranormal Research Society at Penn State University, earned a 1.6 household mark at 10:30 p.m. that night.
The sightings of those shows along with the strongest-ever performance for an Intervention installment at 9 p.m., plus a previous episode of the four-year series at 8 p.m., pushed A&E to the top of cable, sans sports programming, among adults 25 to 54 that night, network officials said.
The new Intervention drew 2.4 million viewers, including 1.5 million adults 25 to 54 and 1.6 million adults 18 to 49.
“We could not be happier with initial performance of Paranormal State, said Bob DeBitetto, executive vice president and general manager of A&E, in a statement. “The series is another example of A&E’s unique brand of character-driven dramatic entertainment, which resonates with our viewers.”
A&E has ordered 20 episodes of Paranormal from Four Seasons Productions Intl and Go Go Luckey Productions. Gary Auerbach, Julie Auerbach and Betsy Schechter serve as executive producers, while Robert Sharenow and Elaine Frontain Bryant hold those roles for A&E.
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