TNT's Summer Schedule Continues to Top Weekly Cable Charts

TNT's summer slate continues to rule the ratings, with The Last Ship winning the week as basic cable's #1 scripted original with key adult demos and Major Crimes and Rizzoli & Isles ranking as basic cable's most-watched programs for the week. Combined with Perception, Murder In The First and Falling Skies, TNT scored six of basic cable's Top 10 scripted originals for the week, duplicating its success for the summer-to-date. In addition, TNT's summer dramas continue to draw a significant number of viewers through DVR usage, with the most recent Live + 7 data showing week-over-week growth for each of the shows on the slate.

The Last Ship ranked as basic cable's #1 scripted original for the week in Live + Same Day delivery of adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 and came in third behind Major Crimes and Rizzoli & Isles among total viewers. Time-shifted viewing has lifted the Aug. 3 episode of The Last Ship to 6.1 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery, including 2.4 million adults 25-54 and 2.0 million adults 18-49. And the July 27 episode brought in a total of 6.9 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery (+5% vs. the prior week), with 2.8 million adults 25-54 (+8%) and 2.3 million adults 18-49 (+2%). The Last Ship continues to rank as basic cable's #1 new series for the year-to-date.

Major Crimes, which ranked as basic cable's #1 program for the week, has so far drawn 6.7 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for last Monday's episode, including 2.0 million adults 25-54 and 1.4 million adults 18-49. Meanwhile, the July 21 episode of Major Crimes grew to a final tally of 7.8 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, a+6% increase over the prior week's episode. In key demos, the July 21 episode garnered 2.4 million adults 25-54 and 1.7 million adults 18-49. Now in its third season, Major Crimes is showing across-the-board growth compared to season two, including a +4% uptick with total viewers.

Rizzoli & Isles came in second for the week behind Major Crimes in Live + Same Day delivery, but time-shifted viewing has actually pushed it ahead by growing Tuesday's audience to 7.2 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery. In key demos, last week's episode has risen to 2.3 million adults 25-54 and 1.9 million adults 18-49 in Live + 3. DVR usage propelled the July 22 episode of Rizzoli & Isles to 8.4 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, an +8% increase over the prior week. The episode also scored week-over-week demo growth, with 2.9 million adults 25-54 (+10%) and 2.4 million adults 18-49 (+8%) in Live + 7 delivery.

Falling Skies attracted 4.2 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for its Aug. 3 episode, including 1.8 million adults 25-54 and 1.6 million adults 18-49. The epic series' July 27 episode scored 4.7 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery(+2% vs. the prior week), including 2.1 million adults 25-54 and 1.8 million adults 18-49.

Perception has drawn more than 4.1 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for last Tuesday's episode (+2% vs. the prior week), including 1.4 million adults 25-54 (+2%) and 1.0 million adults 18-49 (+4%). In addition, Perception's July 22 episode scored 4.7 milion viewers in Live + 7 delivery (+9% vs. the prior week), with 1.6 million adults 25-54 (+4%) and 1.2 million adults 18-49 (matching the prior week).

Murder In The First drew 4.1 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for last Monday's episode, including 1.1 million adults 25-54 and 806,000 adults 18-49. Meanwhile, the July 21 episode of Murder In The First grew to a final total of4.3 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, with 1.2 million adults 25-54 and 897,000 adults 18-49, the latter increasing slightly over the prior week. Murder In The First ranks behind TNT's The Last Ship among basic cable's top new series for the year-to-date.

Cold Justice, TNT's real-life investigative series, brought in 2.2 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for its Aug. 1 episode, with 854,000 adults 25-54 (+2% vs. the prior week) and 605,000 adults 18-49. The show scored huge growth with its July 25 episode, which tallied 2.4 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery (+21% vs. the prior week), along with 873,000 adults 25-54 (+12%) and 689,000 adults 18-49 (+25%). Compared to this past winter's episodes,Cold Justice has grown its Live + 7 delivery by +21% among total viewers, while adults 25-54 have grown by +8%.

TNT's summer success is poised to continue with Wednesday's eagerly anticipated launch of Legends, a thrilling new drama starring Sean Bean and produced by the creative minds behind hits like 24, Homeland and Fringe. Wednesday will also mark the fourth-season premiere of TNT's buddy legal drama Franklin & Bash, starring Mark-Paul Gossellaar and Breckin Meyer.

TNT's Summer-to-Date Ratings

Through the second week of August, TNT continues to rank as basic cable's #1 network in Primetime among total viewers for the summer-to-date and is in a tight race among adults 25-54. TNT's Rizzoli & Isles, Major Crimes andThe Last Ship continue to rank as basic cable's Top 3 most-watched scripted series for the summer-to-date. They are joined by Falling Skies, Murder In The First and Perception in giving TNT six of basic cable's Top 10 scripted series this summer:

#1 Rizzoli & Isles: 7.4 million viewers for the summer-to-date (Live + 7 blended)

#2 Major Crimes: 6.8 million viewers

#3 The Last Ship: 6.3 million viewers

Falling Skies: 4.4 million viewers

Murder in the First: 4.2 million viewers

Perception: 4.1 million viewers

In key demos, TNT's new blockbuster The Last Ship and ongoing hit Rizzoli & Isles lead the pack in giving TNT four of basic cable's Top 5 scripted series this summer with adults 25-54:

#1 The Last Ship: 2.5 million adults 25-54 (Live + 7 blended)

#2 Rizzoli & Isles: 2.4 million adults 25-54

Major Crimes: 2.0 million adults 25-54

Falling Skies: 2.0 million adults 25-54

Among adults 18-49, TNT holds three of the Top 5 scripted series this summer:

The Last Ship: 2.0 million adults 18-49 (Live + 7 blended)

Rizzoli & Isles: 2.0 million adults 18-49

Falling Skies: 1.7 million adults 18-49

Collectively, TNT's summer originals are bringing in many more viewers than last year. For the summer-to-date, the network's original series are averaging 5.6 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, a +30% increase over the same time last year. Demo deliveries have grown by double-digit percentages, with this summer's TNT originals bringing in +17% more adults 25-54 and +12% more adults 18-49 than last summer.

To post a comment, you must register and login.