HARDCORE PAWN Delivers 2 Million Viewers, Setting New Record as truTV's Most-Watched Series Premiere Ever

August 17, 2010

truTV's latest original series, HARDCORE PAWN, debuted Monday at 10 p.m. (ET/PT) with 2 million viewers; 1 million adults 18-49; and 568,000 men 18-49, setting new records in all three categories as the network's biggest series premiere ever.

With its 1,987,000 viewers and 968,000 adults 18-49, the premiere of HARDCORD PAWN topped previous marks held by truTV's Southern Fried Stings, which debuted April 12 with 1,743,000 viewers and 862,000 adults 18-49. Among men 18-49, the premiere episode topped truTV's previous series premiere record set by Black Gold, which garnered 566,000 in June 2008.

HARDCORE PAWN's second episode at 10:30 p.m. (ET/PT) held firm from the premiere, with 1,780,000 viewers; 882,000; adults 18-49; and 550,000 men 18-49.

"HARDCORE PAWN's outstanding premiere-night performance has gotten this new series off to a great start," said Marc Juris, executive vice president and general manager of truTV. "Last night's premiere is the latest example of how truTV continues to strengthen its brand through programming that really resonates with both total viewers and key demos."

HARDCORE PAWN provides a behind-the-scenes look at life inside one of the country's largest pawn shops. The series takes viewers into the zany and sometimes volatile world of Detroit's American Jewelry and Loan, where a wide assortment of people bring in everything from alligators to prosthetic limbs. Each pawn ticket has a story, and there are more than 45,000 stories in the warehouse. The Gold family and their employees never know what to expect when people's personal items are on the line. As each episode of this fascinating series reveals, haggling over a price can quickly escalate into an all-out conflict.

HARDCORE PAWN comes to truTV from RDF USA. The series is executive-produced by Natalka Znak, Claire O'Donohoe and Richard Dominick. Marcus Fox serves as co-executive producer. For truTV, Anthony Horn is executive producer.

About RDF USA

RDF USA is the American operations for Zodiak Entertainment. Since its launch in 2006, RDF USA has produced over 30 series for 14 different networks, including Wife Swap (ABC), How to Look Good Naked (Lifetime), Don't Forget the Lyrics (Fox) and One Big Happy Family (TLC), as well as the upcoming Secret Millionaire (ABC) and the syndicated version of Don't Forget the Lyrics (20th Television, VH1, MyNetworkTV).

truTV

truTV is television's destination for real-life stories told from an exciting and dramatic first-person perspective. Currently seen in 93 million U.S. households, the network is enjoying its best deliveries ever in key demographics. truTV features high-stakes, action-packed originals that give viewers access to places and situations they can't normally experience. truTV's primetime fan favorites include the original series Black Gold, Operation Repo, The Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest� and Forensic Files. During the daytime, the channel features expert trial coverage under the name In Session.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.