Discovery Communications’ U.S. Portfolio Posts Best Month Ever in Prime Delivery in August

-- Discovery Channel Logs Most-Watched Month in Network History; #1 Cable Network for M18-49 --

(Silver Spring, Md.) Discovery Communications logged its best month ever in August 2013, with a robust 25% increase in P25-54 Prime delivery across its U.S. network portfolio. The company’s U.S. portfolio share of ad-supported cable now stands at 11.4%.

Discovery Channel’s 26th annual Shark Week was the network’s best Shark Week ever.Top performances by hit series Amish Mafia and Gold Rush: South America coupled with strongpremieres for freshman series Tickle and Porter Ridge attributed to the network’s 46% surge in P25-54, 49% increase in M25-54 and 38% increase in P2+ for the month, making it the most-watched August in network history. Discovery Channel also was the #1 cable network in August in delivery among M18-49 and Gold Rush: South America was the #1 program in all of television (excluding sports) among men in delivery on Fridays.

August was TLC’s best month in Prime delivery for 2013 to date among HH, P2+ and P/W 25-54/18 49/18-34, and the network’s best August P2+ delivery in a decade. Led by popular returning series Sister Wives, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, The Little Couple, What Not to Wear, and new series Breaking Amish: LA, TLC posted double-digit gains in Prime vs. last August among HH, P/W25-54/18-49/18-34.

With returning hit series Tanked and Gator Boys, Animal Planet earned its most-watched August in network history in Prime and Total Day in delivery among HH and W18-49. Animal Planet also ranked 20th among all ad-supported cable networks in August in delivery of M25-54, marking the eighth straight month as a top-20 network.

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network recorded the highest-rated month in network history in Primetime in August across all key demos, and ranks as a top-20 ad-supported cable network among W25-54 for the third consecutive month, and a top three cable network for African-American W25-54 with ratings highs for returning series Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s and Iyanla: Fix My Life.

August 2013 was Investigation Discovery’s best August ever in Prime for HH, P/W25-54, P/W18-49 and P2+ delivery, boosted by the strong premiere of the 100th episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn, which was the highest-performing premiere ever for the series in HH delivery and delivered over 1M viewers P2+.

Velocity had its best performing August in Prime delivery among all target demos including HHs, P/M25-54, P/M18-49, and P2+, bolstered by the performances of top series Wheeler Dealers Trading Up and freshman series Fantomworks. The network logged an overall 40% increase in P25-54, 39% increase in HHs and strong growth in male demos including +36% in M25-54, +17% and M18-49.

August also was the best-performing month in Destination America’s history in Primetime P/M 25-54/18-49, HH and P2+ delivery. Destination America grew +24% in P25-54, +29% in P2+ and +28% in P18-49 with support from returning signature series Buying Alaska and BBQ Pitmasters.

Science Channel earned its 21st consecutive month of P2+ year-over-year Prime delivery growth due to strong performances by hit series Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman and How It’s Made: Dream Cars. Military Channel garnered increases of 24% in HH, +22% in P2+, and +20% in P25-54 while Discovery Fit & Health recorded gains of +20% in HH, +28% in P2+ and +18% in P25-54 delivery.

Bolstered bypopular series and Primetime movies, The Hub Network continued its growth in August with year-to-date increases in Total Day and Prime in all key demos, including Kids, Adults, Women and P2+. In 2013 -to-date, the Hub Network is ranked #1 in co-view percentage share among Kids 2-11 watching with P18-49.

Source: The Nielsen Company; Prime delivery August 2013 vs. August 2012 unless otherwise noted.