THE WB'S CORNERSTONE SERIES SECURE GROWTH FOR THE 2004�2005 SEASON
Burbank, CA May 26, 2005
BUILDING BLOCKS FOR THE FALL � �7TH HEAVEN, � � �GILMORE GIRLS, � �ONE TREE HILL, � �SMALLVILLE, � �EVERWOOD, � �WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU, � �REBA� �LIVING WITH FRAN� AND �BLUE COLLAR TV� � ALL ENJOY STRONG SEASONS
THE WB MAINTAINS ITS ENTIRE AUDIENCE OVER LAST SEASON IN WOMEN 18-34 ON A MONDAY-FRIDAY BASIS
The WB Network's signature series all had excellent seasons in 2004-2005, scoring year-to-year gains and extremely competitive time period ranks.
The series, which will be used as the network's building blocks for the upcoming season, were led by the Tuesday tandem of GILMORE GIRLS and ONE TREE HILL, which were two of the fastest-growing series on television for the season and more than held their own against the American Idol-led lineup on Fox. Both shows will be used to anchor nights and help launch freshman series next year as GILMORE GIRLS will be joined on Tuesday by SUPERNATURAL and ONE TREE HILL will be paired on Wednesday with RELATED.
Other key series for The WB, which enjoyed successful campaigns include 7TH HEAVEN, which showed no signs of weakening in its 10th season; EVERWOOD, which built in key demos; SMALLVILLE, which held up in one of television's toughest time periods and comedies WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU, REBA, and first-year series LIVING WITH FRAN and BLUE COLLAR TV.
The success of these cornerstones led The WB to maintain its entire audience from the previous season from Monday through Friday in women 18-34 (2.1/6), adults 18-49 (1.5/4) and women 18-49 (1.9/5) and virtually all of its audience in adults 18-34 (1.6/5), persons 12-34 (1.6/5), women 12-34 (2.2/6) and total viewers (3.6 million).
The following is a look at show-by-show highlights for The WB:
� 7TH HEAVEN continues to be competitive in its hour, ranking #3 in the time period among persons 12-34 (2.2/7), women 18-34 (3.0/8) and women 12-34 (3.5/10).
� 7TH HEAVEN, which will become the longest-running family drama in television history when it premieres in the fall, continues to deliver for The WB. The historic series maintained its year ago deliveries in women 18-34, women 12-34, and women 18-49.
� The series remains The WB's most-watched show (5.3 million) and ranks #2 or #3 among all series on The WB in every key female demos.
� EVERWOOD achieved growth versus last season in key female demos, building year-to-year in women 18-34 (2.4/6, up +9%) and women 18-49 (2.4/5, up +9%), as well maintaining last year's delivery among adults 18-34 (1.6/4), women 12-34 (2.6/7) and adults 18-49 (1.6/4).
� GILMORE GIRLS has been a standout for The WB this season, showing tremendous year-to-year growth, including growth of +20% in adults 18-34 (2.4/7), +24% in women 18-34 (3.6/10), +16% in women 12-34 (3.7/10) and +29% in women 18-49 (3.1/8).
� GILMORE GIRLS ranked #2, behind only Idol, in its time period season-to-date in adults 18-34, women 18-34, persons 12-34 and women 12-34. GILMORE GIRLS is one of the few shows on television that has shown resilience against Idol, scoring double-digit growth in total viewers (4.8 million, up +15%).
� GILMORE GIRLS is The WB's second highest-rated show in adults 18-34, persons 12-34, women 18-34 women 12-34 and total viewers (4.8 million), and is the network's top-rated program among women 18-49 and adults 18-49.
� ONE TREE HILL continues to be one of the �fastest-growing shows on television�, building +21% year-to-year in total viewers versus the same period a year ago.
� ONE TREE HILL has posted impressive gains across the board, including +39% growth in adults 18-34 (2.5/7), +23% gains in persons 12-34 (2.7/8), +44% year-to-year growth in women 18-34 (3.6/9) and +32% gains in women 12-34 (4.1/11).
� ONE TREE HILL ranked #2 in its time period in women 12-34.
� ONE TREE HILL is The WB's highest rated program in adults 18-34, persons 12-34, women 18-34, and women 12-34.
� SMALLVILLE, in one of the toughest time periods on television which includes freshman sensation Lost and the always tough American Idol, remains a favorite among young men � ranking #3 for the hour among men 18-34 (2.3/8), men 12-34 (2.3/8) and men 18-49 (2.1/6). It is the network's top-rated series across all male demos.
� BLUE COLLAR TV averaged 3.3 million total viewers in its Thursday, 8 p.m. time period, building +16% over last year's parallel time period. The series registered outstanding double-digit gains over the year ago time period in men 18-34 (+43%), men 12-34 (+33%) and across all 18-49 demos.
� WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU, one of a few network comedies to achieve year-to-year growth, performed well above its delivery a season ago.
� WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU won its time period among women 12-34 (1.7/7) and achieved growth of +13% in women 18-34 (1.7/6), +10% in adults 18-49 (1.1/4) and +7% in women 18-49 (1.5/5).
� REBA, joined WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU as one of few network comedies to grow its audience, has delivered growth this season across the 18-49 demographics, including gains of +13% in adults 18-49 (1.7/5), +15% in women 18-49 (2.3/7) and +22% in men 18-49 (1.1/4), while remaining steady year-to-year in adults 18-34 (1.5/6) and women 18-34 (2.1/7). REBA improved year-to-year in total viewers (4.3 million, up +8%).
� REBA ranked #2 in its time period among women 12-34 (2.0/7) and finished a solid #3 in persons 12-34 (1.5/6) and women 18-34 (2.1/7).
� REBA is the network's top-rated comedy in most demos.
� LIVING WITH FRAN improved its time period compared to the parallel weeks last year in all 18-34, 12-34 and 18-49 demos including +18% in adults 18-34, and +14% in women 18-34.
� LIVING WITH FRAN proved to be a perfect lead-out for REBA, retaining 93% of its lead-in among adults 18-34, 92% of its persons 12-34 rating, and 88% of its adult 18-49 rating.
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