Cheech & Chong Roast Helps TBS Set New Cable Record for Primetime

TBS is on track to set a new ad-supported cable record as it takes position as ad-supported cable’s #1 network in primetime delivery of adults 18-34, according to year-to-date numbers from Nielsen Media Research. In achieving this new record, TBS grew its delivery of the coveted young-adult demo by an astonishing 17% over 2007.

TBS’s success in 2008 has been due in large part to the network’s outstanding collection of both original and acquired sitcoms, including Tyler Perry’s HOUSE OF PAYNE, which ranks as ad-supported cable’s #1 sitcom of all time. The critically acclaimed original sitcoms MY BOYS and THE BILL ENGVALL SHOW enjoyed strong summer runs. And acquired series like The Office, My Name Is Earl and Family Guy rank as three of ad-supported cable’s most popular comedies among adults 18-49, with The Office and My Name Is Earl scoring significantly lower median ages than their telecasts on broadcast.

This year also marked TBS’s first outing as full presenter of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL in Las Vegas. The event featured numerous big-name headliners – from Jerry Seinfeld and Ellen DeGeneres to Jeff Dunham and Tracy Morgan. It also delivered several high-profile specials for TBS.

“This year, we have focused extensively on strengthening the TBS Very Funny brand with the best comedies on television and heavy involvement in major comedy events,” said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks. “As demonstrated by TBS’s record-setting performance, comedy truly is king when it comes to engaging young adult viewers.”

2008 Ratings Highlights for TBS:
Year to date, TBS ranks #1 with adults 18-34 in primetime, scoring 17% growth in the demo when compared to 2007.

· TBS showed growth across the board in primetime, with adults 18-49 up 11%, adults 25-54 up 9%, viewers up 9% and households up 8%. TBS also garnered growth across the board in total day.

· TBS’s primetime median age is currently 35, five years younger than prior to its re-branding as a comedy network in 2004.

Tyler Perry’s HOUSE OF PAYNE ranks as ad-supported cable’s #1 sitcom of all time among adults 18-49, viewers and households.

· This summer marked the second consecutive summer HOUSE OF PAYNE ranked as the #1 program on all of television among African-American adults 18-49. For the year overall, it ranks second only to American Idol as television’s most popular show among African-American adults 18-49.

The second season of TBS’s THE BILL ENGVALL SHOW ranked as ad-supported cable’s #1 show in its time period (Thursdays, 9 p.m. ET) among adults 18-49.

· For the season, THE BILL ENGVALL SHOW averaged 2.6 million viewers, 1.8 million households and 1.4 million adults 18-49.

TBS’s MY BOYS posted solid growth for its second season when compared to its summer 2007 performance, with viewers up 17% and households up 11%.

· For the season, MY BOYS averaged 1.5 million viewers, 1.2 million households and nearly 1 million adults 18-49.

TBS claims four of ad-supported cable’s top five comedies among adults 18-49, with The Office topping the chart.

· When airing on TBS, The Office delivers a median age of 28, which is nine years younger than the show’s airings on NBC. My Name Is Earl also gets a much younger audience, with the TBS median at 30, which is 14 years younger than the show on NBC.

TBS recently completed its first year as full presenter of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL in Las Vegas. Several specials from the three-day event scored strong numbers for TBS.

· ELLEN’S EVEN BIGGER REALLY BIG SHOW scored 2.3 million viewers, up 53% when compared to her show from last year’s edition of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL. In addition, the show delivered 1.2 million adults 18-49, up 57% vs. last year’s show.

· CHEECH & CHONG ROASTED served up a hefty 2.4 million viewers, TBS’s largest audience ever for a special from THE COMEDY FESTIVAL.

· Other specials from THE COMEDY FESTIVAL this year included FUNNIEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR: 2008, with 1.3 million viewers, and the late-night special LAFFAPALOOZA!, with 1.2 million viewers.

· Collectively, TBS’s specials from this year’s edition of THE COMEDY FESTIVAL outdelivered last year’s specials from the Las Vegas event by 20% among viewers and 29% among adults 18-49.

TBS scored cable’s most-watched Major League Baseball game in history (13.4 million viewers) with the network’s Oct. 19 coverage of game seven of the American League Championship Series. It also ranks as TBS’s biggest audience of all time.

· TBS’s coverage of the ALCS showed tremendous growth when compared to the network’s coverage last year of the NLCS, with viewers up 73%, households up 66%, adults 18-34 up 96% and adults 18-49 up 83%.

All claims are based on Live + 7 data when available. All other claims are based on Live + Same Day data.
Year-to-Date Ratings Period: 12/31/07-12/7/08