A&E is wrapping up the best year in the network's history among all key demographics, including adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. This achievement will mark an astonishing eighth straight year of growth among the key adult 25-54 demographics, the longest streak in cable.
Among all entertainment cable networks in 2011, A&E ranks number 5 in adults 25-54 and total viewers, and number 6 in adults 18-49. A&E is averaging 1.5 million total viewers in prime, up 7% over 2010 and has also out-delivered 2010 impressions among adults 25-54 (744,000) and 18-49 (709,000), up 5% and 6% respectively.
"2011 was marked by the strong performance of A&E's unparalleled slate of original programming," said Bob DeBitetto, President and General Manager of A&E and BIO. "It has truly been an outstanding year for the network with strong growth in an increasingly competitive landscape. Our exceptional performance in 2011 was fueled by record setting performances by original hit series 'Storage Wars' and 'Storage Wars Texas,' as well as the strength of our established franchises such as 'Gene Simmons Family Jewels,' 'The Glades,' 'Breakout Kings,' 'Beyond Scared Straight,' 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' and 'The First 48,' giving us great momentum heading into 2012."
2011 also marks the seventh year in a row that A&E finished as a top 10 network in adults 25-54 and total viewers and the sixth year in a row finishing as a top 10 network among adults 18-49. A&E has seven non-fiction shows in the top 50 among 25-54 and the top five crime & justice programs on cable in both adults 25-54 and total viewers.
Several records were achieved by A&E in December 2011, including the launch of "Storage Wars Texas," which became A&E's best series debut ever among total viewers (4.1 million) and adults 25 - 54 (2.1 million). Next, an all-time record was set when an episode of "Storage Wars" scored A&E's #1 telecast ever with adults 18-49 (3.0 million) and tied for A&E's #1 telecast ever among adults 25-54 (2.9 million). On the scripted side, "Stephen King's Bag of Bones," starring Pierce Brosnan, became the best performing mini-series event on cable since A&E's own "Andromeda Strain" premiered in 2008.
A&E closed out the year with nice momentum leading into 2012. For December 2011, the network posted double-digit gains in the key demos, up 21% among total viewers (1.7 million), 15% among adults 25-54 (854,000) and 14% among adults 18-49 (818,000), versus December 2010.
