�THE SOPRANOS�� A HIT ON A&E
PREMIERE EPISODE BECOMES THE MOST-WATCHED OFF-NET SERIES PREMIERE IN CABLE HISTORY WITH 4.3 MILLION VIEWERS
A&E SECURES THE #1 CABLE NETWORK SPOT FOR THE NIGHT ACROSS ALL KEY DEMOS
NEW YORK � January 11, 2007 � Last night�s A&E Network premiere of the acclaimed drama �The Sopranos�� has gone down in cable history as the most watched off-network series premiere ever. 4.3 million viewers tuned-in to A&E to see Tony Soprano and his family make their basic-cable debut. �The Sopranos� led A&E to the #1 spot for the night versus all ad-supported entertainment cable networks in households, total viewers, adults 25-54, 18-49 and 18-34.
�We could not be happier with the strong initial performance of �The Sopranos� on A&E,� said Bob DeBitetto, Executive Vice President and General Manager, A&E Network. �Offering this genre defining series to a mass audience for the first time has clearly resonated with our viewers. We are confident that it will continue to complement A&E�s entire programming portfolio and attract new viewers.�
The premiere episode garnered a 3.6 household coverage rating (a 260% jump over A&E�s 2006 primetime average), 4.3 million total viewers (291% above the 2006 primetime average), 1.8 million viewers 18-49 (216% above the primetime average) and 1.9 million 25-54 (228% above the 2006 primetime average).
�The Sopranos� airs every Wednesday at 9pm/ET with back-to-back episodes. The same episodes will also repeat the following Monday at 9pm/ET.
THE SOPRANOS is an HBO Brad Grey Television production in association with HBO Original Programming. The series was created by David Chase. Executive Producers are Brad Grey and David Chase. HBO and The Sopranos are service marks of Home Box Office, Inc.
Now reaching more than 91 million homes, A&E Network offers a diverse mix of high quality entertainment; ranging from the network�s signature Real-Life Series franchise, including the hit series Dog the Bounty Hunter, Intervention, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, King of Cars and Criss Angel Mindfreak, to critically acclaimed original movies, dramatic series and the most successful justice shows on cable. A&E is the official basic cable home to the high-profile series 24, CSI: Miami and The Sopranos. The A&E Network website is located at www.aetv.com. The A&E Insider is located at www.aetv.com/insider. For more information and photography please visit us on the web at www.aetvpress.com.
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