'Next Food Network Star' Finale Is Channel's Most-Watched Telecast

4.7 Million Tune In To See D'Arabian Win Competition

Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 8/5/2009 2:48:15 PM

Melissa d' Arabian wasn't the only one cooking Sunday night.
The fifth winner of The Next Food Network Star competition helped the Scripps service come off the boil, as the season finale became the most highest-rated and most-watched telecast in network history.
The Aug. 2 premiere of The Next Food Network Star notched a 3.3 household rating and and an average of 4.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research data. Moreover, the show registered a 2.2 rating and 2.4 million adults 25 to 54.
The show ranked as the highest-rated program on cable across all key demos and was tops among both broadcast and cable among Food Network's target of adults 25 to 54, women 25 to 54, and upscale demos, according to network officials.
The fifth series' performance was also the highest in Food history, averaging a 2.1 household and a 1.4 adults 25-to-54 rating for its premiere plays on Sundays at 9 p.m., up 14% in households and 8% in the demo from season four's averages.
The program was the dessert for Food Network, which capped its highest-rated week ever, posting a 0.7 average against adults 25 to 54, a 24% increase over the service's previous high, and a 1.1 household rating, 21% amelioration over its previous best. From July 28 through Aug. 2, Food was seen by an average of 1.4 million viewers, also the most ever for the network.
For her part, the competition's winner is now ready to take center stage as her new daytime series, Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d'Arabian, premieres this Sunday, Aug. 9 at 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT). She will show viewers how to incorporate creative and tasty meals into their budgets by sharing her tried-and-true recipes while always keeping her promise: four people, $10 bucks and infinite possibilities, according to network officials.