'Mad Men's Third-Season Finale Marks Substantial Viewer, Demo Gains

Viewers Jump 33% From Sophomore Concluder; Adults 25-54 Surge 56%

Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 11/9/2009 4:50:07 PM

There were major developments in the Draper household and at Sterling Cooper in the third-season finale of AMC's Emmy Award-winning series Mad Men and dramatic increases in viewers to boot.
The Nov. 8 telecast of the Matt Weiner-series averaged a 1.8 household rating and 2.3 million watchers, gains of 29% and 33% over the 1.4 mark and 1.7 million watchers for Mad Men's second-season concluder, according to Nielsen data.
Among key demos, the third-season finisher produced even stronger gains: a 56% increase to 1.24 million adults 25 to 54 from 796,000 of those watchers last season, and a 58% advance among persons 18 to 49 to 1.12 million from 707,000.
For the full season, Mad Men averaged a 1.4 household rating and 1.8 million watchers, up 18% and 20% from its 1.2 mark and 1.5 million average audience, respectively, during the retro advertising show's second season.
Among adults 25 to 54, Mad Men grew 26% to 982,000 from 780,000 on average season-to-season. AMC officials said the show is the most upscale drama in basic cable, with 50% of that demo having household income in excess of $100,000.
With persons 25 to 54, Mad Men's third season averaged 845,000 of those watchers, 20% more than 705,000 during the sophomore campaign.