BRAVO MEDIA WRAPS UP 2008 WITH ITS BEST YEAR EVER
On-Air And Online Posts Double Digit Year-Over-Year Increases
Ranked As No. 18 Cable Entertainment Network,
Up from 22 in 2007
NEW YORK � December 17, 2008 � Marking a record-breaking year, Bravo ends 2008 on a high note, with double digit increases across the board and ranking as the No. 18 network in primetime among all ad-supported cable entertainment networks in adults 18-49, up four spots from 22 in 2007, according to Nielsen Media Research. Scoring its third consecutive year of year-over-year growth, Bravo averaged 458,000 adults 18-49 (vs. 332,000) and 749,000 total viewers (vs. 602,000), a 38 percent and 24 percent increase respectively, versus 2007. Year-to-date, Bravo is the No. 1 cable network in the Wednesday 10 p.m. � 11 p.m. time period among adults 18-49, as well as the fastest growing ad-supported cable network among women 18-49 in primetime, ranking tenth.
"Bravo's explosive growth has been fueled by our award-winning unscripted originals," said Frances Berwick, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Bravo Media. "With an almost 50 percent increase in programming hours, we have broadened our audience while remaining the most upscale and engaged network."
2008 was the network's most award-winning year ever, with Emmy, Peabody, GLAAD and James Beard Award wins, as well as more nominations than ever before, including a record breaking 11 primetime Emmy and three Producers Guild Award nominations. With quality programming, the network continues to be the No. 1 most engaged, educated and upscale cable network among adults 18-49 in primetime. Additionally, in a recent Nielsen IAG year-end study, eight out of the top 10 product placements generating the greatest brand opinion improvement were on Bravo, beating out every broadcast and cable network on the dial for 2008.
With over one billion page views, Bravo Digital and its online suite of assets � www.BravoTV.com, www.OutzoneTV.com and www.TelevisionWithoutPity.com � ended the year with record numbers, earning its best year ever and seeing double-digit increases versus 2007. Page views were up an impressive 48 percent (1.192 billion vs. 806 million), unique visitors up 30 percent (29.8 million vs. 22.9 million) and video streams rose 84 percent (31 million vs. 16.9 million). BravoTV.com saw big year-over-year gains, with a whopping 105 percent increase in page views (718 million vs. 350 million), a 43 percent rise among unique visitors (21 million vs. 14.6 million) and an impressive 85 percent increase in video streams (29.3 million vs. 15.9 million). Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst.
Fueled by the successful competition reality genre and its addictive docu-dramas, and with its trademark line-up of talented, creative and culturally relevant lifestyles and personalities, Bravo boasts 19 original series with telecasts that hit over a million total viewers, up from 12 in 2007. To-date, nine original series have had telecasts hit over two million total viewers, up from three the prior year, and five telecasts have crossed the three million viewer mark, up from three the year in 2007.
Continuing Bravo's hallmark of increasing viewership with its original franchise cycles, the following series delivered record ratings for the network in 2008:
Bravo's Emmy and James Beard Award-winning series "Top Chef" � the No. 1 rated food show on cable � continues to be a ratings phenomenon. The show's fifth cycle, "Top Chef: New York," had the highest season premiere for the series ever among adults 18-49 and total viewers, and to-date, is on pace to be the highest rated "Top Chef" season ever, up double digits in all demos compared to the prior season. Season four's "Top Chef: Chicago" (which ended in June) averaged 2.338 million adults 18-49 and 3.225 million total viewers.
The "Real Housewives" franchise continues to be a ratings juggernaut for the network. "The Real Housewives of Orange County's" fourth cycle is currently on pace to be the highest "Real Housewives" season ever, with a season-to-date average of 1.359 million adults 18-49 and 1.855 total viewers. Season three of "The Real Housewives of Orange County" (which ended in January) was up 22 percent among adults 18-49 (1.160 million vs. 947,000) and up 26 percent among total viewers (1.498 million vs. 1.189 million).
The newest addition to the franchise, "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," which has been picked up for a second season, was the network's first docu-series ever to crack the two million viewer mark among adults 18-49. The first season's reunion special in November was the highest rated "Real Housewives" franchise telecast ever among adults 18-49 and total viewers, with 2.186 million adults 18-49 and 3.002 million total viewers tuning in. The series averaged 1.130 million adults 18-49 and 1.495 million total viewers. Online, "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" site generated www.BravoTV.com's best ever video streams for a freshman series, surpassing site totals for all prior "Real Housewives'" seasons and series, with 4.5 million video streams and 29.2 million page views.
The watercooler sensation "The Real Housewives of New York City," which returns in early 2009, averaged 928,000 adults 18-49 and 1.255 million total viewers.
The fifth season of the 12-time Emmy nominated and Peabody Award-winning series "Project Runway" marked its highest season ever averaging 2.912 million adults 18-49 and 4.314 million total viewers.
The two-time Emmy Award-winning series "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" marked its highest season ever, with season four averaging 754,000 adults 18-49 and 1.013 million total viewers.
The return of "Flipping Out" saw a 48 percent increase among adults 18-49 and a 52 percent increase among total viewers, versus the season one average. The series was also up an incredible 268 percent in page views (1.57 million to 5.77 million) and 87 percent in video streams (267,000 to 706,000) on BravoTV.com.
Bravo's freshman series exceeded expectations, with "The Millionaire Matchmaker" averaging 695,000 adults 18-49 and 986,000 total viewers, "The Rachel Zoe Project" averaging 592,000 adults 18-49 and 762,000 total viewers, with the finale reaching over one million viewers. The creative competition series "Make Me A Supermodel" averaged 759,000 adults 18-49 and 1.083 million total viewers, and became Bravo's most clicked first-season series ever, generating 50 million page views during its in-season run and over 60 million page views in all of 2008. "Tabatha's Salon Takeover" averaged 785,000 adults 18-49 and 1.193 million total viewers � earning the spot as the highest rated Thursday series in network history.
Season two of "Million Dollar Listing" registered triple digit gains versus the prior season, up 124 percent and 111 percent, respectively, and online the series was up an outstanding 2,154 percent in page views (0.097 million to 2.18 million).
"Top Design" garnered its highest season yet with the second installment averaging 1.128 million adults18-49 and 1.776 million total viewers, up 58 percent and 54 percent respectively from season one.
Season two of "Shear Genius" averaged 1.318 million adults 18-49 and 2.080 total viewers, up 80 percent (vs. 731,000) and up 91 percent among total viewers (vs. 1.091 million) respectively, versus the prior season. The season two finale was a series high delivering 1.879 million adults 18-49 and 2.913 total viewers.
Source: Nielsen Media Research, Live + 7 through 11/30/08 blended with Live + Same Day through 12/14/08; Rating rankers: 1/1/07-12/16/07, 12/31/07-12/14/08, Mon-Sun 8P-11P, Includes ad supported cable entertainment networks that air in at least 50% of the Mon-Sun 8P-11P daypart, AA(000), Fastest growing story among F18-49 is based off of the top 40 ranked ad supported cable entertainment networks in Prime; Nielsen Marketbreaks, 12/31/07-11/23/08, HH inc $125K+, College Education 4+ years, standard minimums applied, P18-49 VPVH, 8P-11P Prime; Engagement: Nielsen IAG Measured Networks, 12/31/07-11/30/08. Program Engagement scores consists of non-sports prime programming, Cable prime (M-Su 6P-12A), Broadcast Prime (M-Sa 8P-11P, Su 7P-11P), P18-49; Brand Opinion: Nielsen IAG Measured Networks, 1/1/08-11/30/08, Product Placement during original primetime entertainment programming, Broadcast Prime (Mon-Sat 8P-11P, Sun 7P-11P), Cable Prime (Mon-Sun 6P-12A); Omniture SiteCatalyst, 1/1/08-12/15/08 vs. 1/1/07-12/31/07.
Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBC Universal cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information, visit www.BravoTV.com.
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