"SONS OF ANARCHY" REVS UP RECORD RATINGS

SOA Season 4 Premiere Most-Watched Episode Ever for the Series With 4.94 Million Total Viewers and 3.22 Million Adults 18-49

Premiere Telecast and Encore Run Combine for Total Audience of 7.25 Million Total Viewers and 4.76 Million Adults 18-49

LOS ANGELES, September 7, 2011 - FX's acclaimed hit drama series Sons of Anarchy roared back into action last night as the 90-minute season four premiere episode became the most-watched episode in the series' history (Live+SameDay), and it is likely to be the most-watched single episode ever for an FX original series when Live+7 data is available from The Nielsen Company.

The first-run episode of Sons (Sept. 6, 10-11:30 PM) delivered 4.94 million Total Viewers and 3.22 million Adults 18-49, which were gains of +20% in Total Viewers and +15% among Adults 18-49 versus its third-season bow.

Last night's premiere telecast and two encore runs (11:30 PM and 1 AM) combined to deliver 7.25 Million Total Viewers and 4.76 Million Adults 18-49, which marked respective increases of +28% in Total Viewers (5.66 million) and +24% in Adults 18-49 (3.84 million) over the season three premiere multi-telecast delivery (9/7/10).

"I want to thank Kurt Sutter and our amazing cast and crew for a job well done, along with our programming, marketing and publicity departments," said John Landgraf, President and General Manager, FX Networks. "Last night's ratings are indicative of the passion the audience has for this wonderful show. Kurt has crafted one of the most compelling series on television, with the raw, blow-your-hair-back energy of a wide open Harley and the subtle complexity of a great book."

The previous high in Total Viewers for a single episode of Sons was the season two finale which delivered 4.32 million Total Viewers (12/1/09), and the previous high in Adults 18-49 was 3.03 million for the season two premiere episode (9/8/09).

Sons also posted series-high deliveries last night in households (3.42 million), Women 18-49 (1.325 million), Adults 18-34 (1.8 million), Women 18-34 (746,000), Adults 25-54 (3.03 million), and Women 25-54 (1.34 million).

Sons of Anarchy was created by Kurt Sutter, and is executive produced by Sutter, John Linson, Art Linson and Paris Barclay. The series is produced by Fox 21 and FX Productions.

Sons of Anarchy is an adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones that explores a notorious outlaw motorcycle club's (MC) desire to protect its livelihood while ensuring that their simple, sheltered town of Charming, California remains exactly that, Charming. The MC must confront threats from drug dealers, corporate developers, and overzealous law officers. Behind the MC's familial lifestyle and legally thriving automotive shop is a ruthless and illegally thriving arms business. The seduction of money, power, and blood.

Jackson 'Jax' Teller (Charlie Hunnam) is the MC's vice-president who is tested by his growing apprehension for its lawlessness, Gemma Teller Morrow (Katey Sagal) is Jax's force-of-nature mother, and Clarence 'Clay' Morrow (Ron Perlman) is Jax's stepfather and MC president. The triangle of Mother, Son, and Stepfather will ultimately reveal the dark secrets in this family's past and the lengths they will go to protect their sins.

This season begins with SAMCRO fresh out of jail and back into Charming. Upon their arrival, they encounter new law enforcement and head right back to business. The club is pressed with a decision that could challenge what SOA has always stood for and brings forth an unlikely alliance. With Jax, fresh out of a jail and the birth of his newborn son, he is forced to put new plans into motion that could affect the club and ultimately his family.

Episode 2: "Booster" (Airs 9/13) - The Sons of Anarchy are forced to make a decision that could challenge the future of the club.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from the Fox Networks Group. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning original series, an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox and other studios and an impressive roster of acquired hit series. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com.

SOURCE: The Nielsen Company (Live+SameDay)