Bravo kicked off 2006 with a bang, setting new records across all key demos for total day viewing in first quarter 2006. The first quarter was the most-watched quarter in Bravo history. In primetime (Monday-Sunday 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.), Bravo averaged 391,000 homes and 281,000 Adults 18-49, the best first quarter performances ever for the network.
For total day, Bravo set new all-time records for any quarter in households and across all key demos. Bravo averaged 214,000 households, 258,000 total viewers (both up 2% versus a year ago) and 148,000 adults 18-49 (up 6%) - each an all-time network record. The Bravo prime averages of 391,000 households and 281,000 Adults 18-49 were up 3% and 1%, respectively, versus the same quarter a year ago. and up 8% and 58%, respectively versus the prior quarter, 4Q05.
Bravo continues to attract younger viewers: The primetime average viewer age of 42.7 was nearly five years younger than the previous quarter. Incidentally, the primetime average of 134,000 Adults 18-34 was also a network all-time quarterly high, up 7% year-to-year. Additionally, Bravo is also maintaining its leadership position as a magnet for upscale primetime viewers, delivering a higher concentration of affluent Adults 25-54 than any other cable entertainment network for the quarter (available date thru 2/28/06).
"Bravo broke ratings records this first quarter, from the most watched episode of any show ever -- THE PROJECT RUNWAY finale -- to achieving all time highs on BravoTV.com, and now we have the most watched quarter ever in Bravo history!" said Lauren Zalaznick, President, Bravo. "Of particular note is the fact that this year´s first quarter numbers beat our numbers from last year´s phenomenal first quarter -- which included the through the roof ratings of our season one finale for mega-hit PROJECT RUNWAY -- and speaks to the quality and breadth of programming that continues to attract new viewers to the network."
Breakout original programming with buzz-worthy personalities contributed to Bravo achieving its most successful first quarter in the network´s history. Driven by the success of the second season of the hit series PROJECT RUNWAY, along with new series launches for the third season of BLOW OUT and the acclaimed TOP CHEF and the docu-soap THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY, highlights for Bravo´s first quarter of 2006 include:
PROJECT RUNWAY´s second season finale on Wednesday, March 8 from 10:00 - 11:00 p.m. was the most viewed program in Bravo´s history, achieving a 3.2 household rating and averaging 3.5 million total viewers, 2.5 million adults 18-49 and 2.1 million adults 25-54. The telecast was up across all key demographics when compared to the show´s first season finale, posting increases of 94% among adults 18-49, 75% among adults 25-54, and 74% among total viewers. Overall, the second season of PROJECT RUNWAY averaged a lofty 1.6 household coverage rating, 1.7 million total viewers, 1.3 million viewers 18-49, and 1.1 million viewers 25-54.
The series premiere of TOP CHEF followed on Wednesday, March 8 from 11:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. and attracted 1.3 million total viewers, 932,000 18-49 viewers and 826,000 25-54 viewers. TOP CHEF was the highest-rated Wednesday premiere in Bravo history in all demos and achieved the network´s highest time-period delivery among total viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.
The third season premiere of BLOW OUT on Tuesday, March 21 from 9:00 - 10:00 p.m. posted a .5 HH rating and delivered huge increases over the prior four week time-period average in key demos, including 114% percent among adults 18-49 and 104% among adults 25-54. Following BLOW OUT was the premiere of the docu-series THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ORANGE COUNTY from 10:00 - 11:00 p.m., which attracted 430,000 total viewers (up 45% from the prior four week time-period average), and 286,000 Adults 18-49 (up 66%)
Traffic to BravoTV.com also broke all-time Bravo records with 3.4 million unique visitors and 107.5 million page views, representing increases of 60% and 132%, respectively, versus the same quarter a year ago. The site generated 5.6 million video streams, improving on 1Q05 by 230%. Helping to fuel the success was the second season of PROJECT RUNWAY, which garnered an impressive 65 million page views and 2.1 million unique visitors for the show alone. Bravo´s first-ever interactive voting, which took place during the PROJECT RUNWAY finale, brought in 114,466 - 49,472 via text messaging and 64,994 via the web. The site´s unique features also helped drive its success, with 7.6 million page views to Tim Gunn´s blog and 600,000 downloads of Tim Gunn´s podcast.
