Signature Series Continues To Build Momentum With 57% Increase in HH Ratings Since its Season Premiere
Tops Record Ratings Success of July 9 Telecast
New York, NY, July 26, 2006 – WE tv announced today that the Sunday, July 23rd airing of the network's hit original series Bridezillas ranked as the network's highest-rated original series telecast in WE history, with a 0.85 household rating, as well as the highest W18+ delivery ever on WE (500K). The two airings of the new Bridezillas episode on Sunday night, at 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., delivered a combined 1.39 household rating. The episode also ranked as #1 among ad supported networks for the 10:00 pm hour on July 23 for W18-49 VPVH levels.
New episodes for the third season of Bridezillas have garnered increased ratings since the premiere on June 11, 2006, increasing on average 9% from episode to episode, with a 57% increase in household rating from the premiere episode (.54) to the seventh episode that aired this past Sunday. To date, the third season ratings for Bridezillas are pacing +21% higher than the second season, with 96,000 more households and 148,000 total viewers tuning in on average. The July 23 Bridezillas ratings performance outdid the recently announced record-breaking episode on July 9 (7.8 HH Rtg), as well as the previous highest rated original telecast on WE, American Princess Finale on September 11, 2005 (0.81 HH Rtg).
"As the anchor for our original programming slate, Bridezillas continues to engage and connect with our viewers," said Kim Martin, WE tv's Executive Vice President and General Manager. "The popularity of the show has even managed to bring the term "Bridezillas" into mainstream pop culture. These amazing numbers for season three contribute to WE's overall increase in ratings this summer, with last month ranking as the best June in the history of the network for HH Ratings and Delivery. With several more original premieres in the next few months, and the return of our hit series John Edward Cross Country and Secret Lives of Women, we look forward to continuing this ratings momentum."
The launch of the third season of Bridezillas was supported by a multi-million dollar comprehensive marketing initiative. In addition to a large presence on television, radio and print, Bridezillas had an extensive online promotional campaign. Linked through WE tv's website (www.we.tv) there is a mini-site for Bridezillas that features episode information, profiles of this seasons Bridezillas, wedding tips, a discussion board, downloads of a Bridezillas theme song, ringtones and AIM icons, and a blog on wedding highs and lows (www.youmaynowkisstheblog.com). WE tv also hosted the second annual 'Running of the Bridezillas' on June 12 in Times Square. The buzz-generating event featured 20 brides-to-be storming through a frosting filled, wedding-themed obstacle course to win $25,000 toward their upcoming nuptials.
Bridezillas is a part of WE tv's growing list of original programming, including the hit series John Edward Cross Country, Secret Lives of Women, and the recently announced Dirty Dancing and Unwrapping Macy's. Original programming has garnered record ratings success for WE tv. To date in 05/06, WE tv has +243% more original telecasts during Prime M-Su 8p-11p than in the same time period during the 04/05 season. In addition, the 05/06 season is pacing to be the best in WE tv's history for Prime M-Su 8p-11p delivery of HH, W18-34, W18-49, W25-49 and W25-54.
Airing as part of the network's new Sunday night programming block "WE's Wild Wedding Night," Bridezillas takes a comedic look at how brides-to-be go from sweet to certifiable while planning their big day. The rising popularity of the series has managed to bring the term "Bridezillas" into mainstream pop culture as an expression for those women who have gone from engaged to enraged. The 18 episodes of Bridezillas season three are produced by September Films and run one hour each.
**Source: Nielsen Media Research, 7/23/06 Bridezillas 10p & 1a telecasts, cumulative HH ratings, and demographic delivery; Bridezillas Su 10p telecast compared to ad supported cable networks from 10p-11p on 7/23/06 for W18-49 VPVH levels. Bridezillas 7/23/06 Sunday 10p telecast compared to all telecasts on WE from 12/31/01-7/23/06. Bridezillas Season 3 Su 10p premiere telecasts from 6/11/06-7/23/06, excluding 7/2/06 telecast compared to 6/12/05-7/24/05 excluding 7/3/05 telecast.
**Source: WE Originals based on Prime M-Su 8p-11p telecasts 04/05 STD 09/27/04-07/24/05 vs. 05/06 STD 09/26/05-07/23/06.
About WE tv
WE tv is the only cable network dedicated to helping women connect to one another and the world around them. With quality original programming including the hit series "Bridezillas," unique movie packages like "Three Men and A Chick Flick," topical specials and its public affairs initiative WE Empowers Women, the network supports women and appeals to their interests in pop culture, relationships and personal style. WE tv is a subsidiary of Rainbow Entertainment Services and is currently seen in over 59 million homes.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands including popular national and regional television channels AMC, fuse, The Independent Film Channel (IFC), WE tv, and three FSN affiliated regional sports networks managed by Rainbow Sports Networks. The company also manages Mag Rack and sportskool, two original on-demand networks; VOOM HD Networks, the largest and most diverse suite of high definition channels available anywhere; IFC Entertainment, its film distribution, production and exhibition division; Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales division; and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.