TOP DESIGN Premiere Becomes Highest Rated Series Premiere In Network History
Bravo devoured the competition Wednesday night with 3.896 million total viewers and 2.879 Adults 18-49 tuning in to see the bespectacled New Yorker Ilan Hall win the second season finale of TOP CHEF at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, making the show the #1 telecast on cable for the night and besting ABC’s "Primetime" in head-to-head competition in viewers 18-49 (2.879 vs. 2.705), according to Nielsen Media Research. Additionally, 1.768 million total viewers showed their good taste by tuning in to the season premiere of TOP DESIGN at 11:00 p.m. ET/PT, making it Bravo’s highest rated series premiere in network history.
The third installment of Watch What Happens, BravoTV.com’s weekly broadband series hosted by Andy Cohen, which immediately followed TOP CHEF’s conclusion at 11:01P, posted strong increases for a second straight week. There were 29,639 reported hits from Akamai from 11:00P-11:40P, +82% above last week reported hits from 11:15P-11:35P.
"After 12 months of consecutive year-over-year growth, Wednesday night is another fantastic achievement for Bravo because viewers continue to come to us on air and on line for acclaimed and dramatic entertainment content," said Lauren Zalaznick, President, Bravo. "TOP CHEF came into its own this season as one of cable’s biggest and most talked about hits, and TOP DESIGN takes the reigns by debuting to both historic numbers and critical acclaim."
TOP CHEF season two finale outpaced the season two finale of PROJECT RUNWAY on March 8, 2006 by 16 percent among Adults 18-49 (2.879 vs. 2.472), and 14 percent among total viewers (3.896 vs. 3.409). Additionally, TOP CHEF season two finale bested the inaugraial season one finale on May 24, 2006 by 185 % in Adults 18-49 (2.879 vs. 1.010) and by 157 percent in total viewers (3.896 vs. 1.515). And, compared to its season to date average (excluding the finale), Wednesday’s nights finales was up +108% among P18-49, +85% among P25-54, and +100% among total viewers.
TOP DESIGN, which premiered after the finale of TOP CHEF and moves into its regular 10 PM timeslot next Wednesday, garnered a 1.49 HH coverage rating, 1.768 million total viewers, and 1.319 million Adults 18-49, making it Bravo’s biggest series premiere in network history.
