ABC Orders Two Additional Episodes of Reality Series SHARK TANK

SHARK TANK has picked up two additional episodes, bringing the season total to 15 episodes. Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the ABC reality series - which now stands as the No. 1 show on Friday nights on the broadcast nets with Teens 12-17 -- is up sharply over its prior season average, growing by 19% in Total Viewers and 27% in young adults to deliver its strongest season ever.

On the show's second head-to-head matchup on February 24 with "Undercover Boss," the CBS show dropped sharply (-21%) from its week-earlier premiere, while "Shark Tank" nearly caught the CBS show for No. 1 at 8:00 p.m. in Adults 18-49 (placing within 1-tenth of a rating point and tied in audience share). In addition, "Shark Tank" dominated "Undercover Boss" across the 18-34 demos: AD18-34 +17%, M18-34 +27% and W18-34 +15%.

SHARK TANK has attracted its share of celebrity followers, including the NBA's New Jersey Nets' Kris Humphries, rapper Pit Bull and reality TV personality Snooki, tweeting to her 4 million Twitter followers during a recent show, "Totally into Shark Tank right now."

On SHARK TANK, a panel of Sharks hears pitches of the best business and product ideas from some of America's brightest entrepreneurs. When the Sharks hear a great idea, they're ready to fight each other for a piece of it. If and when the Sharks are confronted with a really top-notch idea, and more than one of them wants to sink their teeth into it, a war between them can erupt.

The Sharks are: billionaire Mark Cuban, owner and chairman of HDNet and outspoken owner of the 2011 NBA championship Dallas Mavericks; real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran; "Queen of QVC" Lori Greiner; technology innovator Robert Herjavec; fashion and branding expert Daymond John and venture capitalist Kevin O'Leary.

"Shark Tank" airs Fridays (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.