NEARLY 3.9 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS FEASTED ON SECOND SEASON FINALE OF 'TOP CHEF,' PROPELLING FINALE TO #1 TELECAST ON CABLE FOR THE NIGHT AND BESTING ABC'S "PRIMETIME" IN HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPETITION
NEARLY 3.9 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS FEASTED ON SECOND SEASON FINALE OF 'TOP CHEF,' PROPELLING FINALE TO #1 TELECAST ON CABLE FOR THE NIGHT AND BESTING ABC'S "PRIMETIME" IN HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPETITION
'Top Design' Premiere Becomes Highest Rated Series Premiere In Network History
NEW YORK, NY, February 1, 2007 � Bravo devoured the competition last 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, last 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), last 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.
"Top Chef" is produced by Magical Elves. Dan Cutforth and Jane Lipsitz serve as executive producers. Shauna Minoprio also serves as executive producer.
Bravo has partnered with Stone & Company Entertainment to bring viewers this new competition series searching for America's next great interior designer. Stone & Company Entertainment's Scott Stone and Clay Newbill serve as Executive Producers.
Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts, entertainment and pop culture with original programming, acclaimed drama series, movies, comedy and music specials, and by showing a whole different side of celebrities. Currently available in more than 83 million homes, Bravo is known for breaking exciting new personalities, shaking up the way we look at style, media, fame and Hollywood, pulling back the curtain on the creative process, and making influential and inventive original programming. Its critically acclaimed original programming includes the Emmy-nominated "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List," 12-time Emmy-nominated "Inside the Actors Studio," "The Real Housewives of Orange County," "Top Chef," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, "Queer Eye," and the four-time Emmy-nominated hit competition series, "Project Runway."
Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been an NBC cable network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information visit www.bravotv.com .
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