History's VIKINGS Wraps Season with 3.4 Million Viewers

HISTORY's(R) Vikings (#Vikings) continues to conquer. The hit drama's season two finale averaged 3.4 million Total Viewers, 1.6 million Adults 25-54, 1.4 million Adults 18-49, 989,000 Men 25-54 and 879,000 million Men 18-49 at 10:00pm last night, according to Nielsen Research.

VIKINGS' finale also dominated social media. Last night's episode was the number one most tweeted cable program, while it also earned its largest Twitter audience to-date, up +202% from the season one finale and +10% from the season two premiere. Year-to-date, the program is HISTORY's most tweeted about series, and season two posted a +98% jump in tweets from season one (Source: Nielsen Social). Online, Vikings attracted strong viewing across HISTORY's sites and apps throughout season two, generating a 22% increase vs. season one (source: Adobe Analytics).

On a Live+7 basis through April 13, Vikings is averaging 5.1 million Total Viewers (up +55% versus its Live+Same Day metrics), 2.7 million Adult 25-54 viewers (+69%), 2.5 million Adult 18-49 viewers (+79%), 1.7 million Men 25-54 viewers (+70%) and 1.5 million Men 18-49 viewers (+68%). With time shifted viewing, Vikings ranks as the number one cable series on Thursday nights in all key demos.

In March, HISTORY renewed the program for a third season that will premiere next year.

Vikings centers on Ragnar (Travis Fimmel), a Restless young warrior and family man who longs to find and conquer new lands across the sea and claim the spoils as his own. Now he is an Earl, allied with King Horrik (Donal Logue). With more power than ever before, his desire to sail west and explore new kingdoms remains unquenchable.

Yet there's a heavy price to pay for Ragnar's ascent to greatness. Season two brought crises of faith, of power, of relationships. Brothers rose up against one another. Loyalties shifted from friend to foe, and unlikely alliances were formed in the name of supremacy. Ragnar's indiscretions threatened his marriage to Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick), tearing him and his beloved son apart. Plots were hatched, scores were settled, blood spilled...all under the watchful eyes of the gods.

New to the cast of Vikings this season were Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games) as Bjorn, the intelligent and bold warrior son of Ragnar Lothbrok, and Linus Roache (Law & Order) as Ecbert, King of Wessex, a man of strength, knowledge and undisguised ambition. They joined Travis Fimmel as Ragnar Lothbrok; Katheryn Winnick as Lagertha, a fierce shield maiden and Ragnar's wife; Clive Standen as Rollo, Ragnar's impulsive, wild, care-free brother; George Blagden as Athelstan, a young and not-so-innocent Monk; Jessalyn Gilsig as Siggy, beautiful wife of the late Earl Haraldson; Donal Logue as King Horrik, who desires to make the increasingly famous Earl Ragnar an ally and supporter; Gustaf Skarsgard, a ship builder who designs the new generation of Vikings ships; and Alyssa Sutherland as Princess Aslaug, Ragnar's new love interest.

Vikings was created and written by Michael Hirst - one of the premier historical story-tellers in the industry (Academy-Award winning film Elizabeth; and the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated series The Tudors) -- who serves as Executive Producer along with Morgan O'Sullivan of World 2000 (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Tudors), John Weber of Take 5 Productions (The Tudors; The Borgias), Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer, James Flynn (The Tudors, The Borgias) and Sheila Hockin (The Tudors, The Borgias). Dirk Hoogstra and Julian P. Hobbs are the Executives in Charge of Production for HISTORY.

Vikings is an international Irish/Canadian co-production being co-produced by World 2000 and Take 5 Productions. HISTORY broadcasts domestically in the U.S. MGM Television brought the series to the network and brings Vikings to the global audience, serving as the worldwide distributor outside of Ireland and Canada. Vikings is produced in association with Shaw Media, and the series also airs on HISTORY in Canada.

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