DISCOVERY'S SHARK WEEK PREMIERE ON SUNDAY, JULY 23 DELIVERS HIGHEST RATINGS IN THREE YEARS
Helps Network Rank #1 in Primetime For All of Television
NEW YORK (July 28, 2023) - "Shark Week," Discovery Channel's week-long celebration of sharks, hosted by Jason Momoa, returned for a landmark 35th year on Sunday, July 23 at 8pmET and drove the network to rank #1 in primetime for all of television with Adults and Men 18-49 and #1 across cable television with Adults and Men 25-54, Adults and Men 18-49, and Adults 18-34. The highest-rated Shark Week premiere night in three years, the programming event reached more than 5.3 million total viewers across Discovery Channel, discovery+ and Max on its first night.
Sunday night's telecasts averaged a 1.13 L3 rating among Adults 25-54 - a 9% increase from a year ago and the largest opening night growth in six years. Through the first four nights of Shark Week (Sunday-Wednesday L+SD), Discovery is the #1 network on cable in Adults, Men and Women 25-54, Adults, Men and Women 18-49 and Women 18-34.
"We were able to harness the strength of the Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio to cross promote Shark Week and now, with double-digit gains throughout the week, it is the highest-rated in three years - with every night outperforming a year ago," said Howard Lee, President of Discovery Networks and TLC. "It's a powerful example of how we can use our platforms to showcase high-profile programming events. Also, our collaboration with host Jason Momoa, the fan-favorite actor and conservationist who guides viewers through each night of programming, ensured that our first night was a success and set the stage for the week's strong performance."
"We engaged viewers across every brand and platform because we wanted to provide memorable Shark Week experiences for them, including offering an exclusive sneak peek of Meg 2: The Trench, the next big theatrical release from Warner Bros. Discovery," said Josh Kovolenko, Senior Vice President of Marketing, US Networks Group. "We also brokered various marketing partnerships with influential brands that are organically connected to our long-standing mission to highlight and celebrate sharks."
On Sunday, Discovery Channel owned the #1 cable telecast in primetime among Adults and Men 25-54 and Men 18-49. Belly of the Beast: Feeding Frenzy, which provides a close-up look at a great white shark feast captured by researchers with cameras inside a whale carcass decoy, kicked off the night with a 1.10 L3 rating with Adults 25-54 at 8pmET. Jaws vs The Meg which showcases scientists' research on how great whites defeated a super predator, delivered a 1.24 L3 rating with Adults 25-54 from 9-10pmET, a 7% increase over a year ago, and was the #1 Primetime telecast on all of television with Men 25-54. Closing out the night at 10pmET, Serial Killer: Red Sea Attacks, investigating deadly shark attacks in Egypt, delivered a 1.01 L3 with Adults 25-54, a 20% increase from last year.
Warner Bros. Discovery's linear and streaming portfolio - including TBS, TNT, truTV, TLC, Food Network, HGTV, CNN, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, Science Channel, ID, TCM - are also airing Shark Week-inspired content or cross-promoting the event through Saturday, July 29.
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 88.3 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 224 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.
About Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world's most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, Max, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Film Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en EspaƱol, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.
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