TNT

TNT continues to lead the ratings when it comes to original series, charting three of basic cable's Top 5 most-watched dramas last week: including #1 ranked The Closer, as well as Dallas and Perception.

TNT also claimed basic cable's Top 2 scripted series telecasts for the week among key adult demos, with Falling Skies and Dallas leading in delivery of adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.

With its original series continuing to turn in strong performances, TNT's summer primetime averages are up 4% among total viewers, +3% among adults 18-49 and +2% among adults 25-54, compared to summer 2011.

Monday

· Last week's penultimate episode of TNT's blockbuster series The Closer topped the charts as cable's #1 program for the week, drawing more than 6 million viewers in Live + Same Day. That's up 4% over the prior week. In the demos, The Closer averaged 1.3 million adults 18-49 and grew its adults 25-54 delivery by 8% to 1.8 million.

· Joining The Closer among basic cable's Top 5 dramas last week was Monday night's episode of Perception, which chalked up 4.1 million viewers in Live + Same Day, up 10% over the prior week. The new drama also garnered 888,000 adults 18-49 and 1.3 million adults 25-54, the latter growing 4% over the prior week.

Wednesday

· TNT's hit drama Dallas closed out its first season on Wednesday with 4.3 million viewers in Live + Same Day delivery, up 32% over the previous week. The show also scored significant growth over among key demos, with adults 18-49 up 58% to 1.6 million and adults 25-54 up 49% to 1.9 million. For its first season, Dallas averaged 4.5 million viewers in Live + Same Day delivery, with 1.4 million adults 18-49 and 1.8 million adults 25-54. Time-shifted viewing has lifted the series average to 6.4 million viewers, 2.2 million adults 18-49 and 2.7 million adults 25-54 in Live + 7 through the first seven weeks.

Sunday

· TNT's popular caper series Leverage opened Sunday night with 2.3 million viewers in Live + Same Day, including 813,000 adults 18-49 and more than 1 million adults 25-54.

· TNT's epic drama Falling Skies scored 3.5 million viewers on Sunday, up 4% over the prior week's episode. The show also ranked as basic cable's top scripted series for the week among key adult demos, with 1.7 million adults 18-49 and 2.0 million adults 25-54, the latter growing by +6% over the previous week. In its second season, Falling Skies continues to rank as basic cable's #1 summer drama with key adult demos.

Live + 7

Time-shifted viewing data indicates millions of viewers are making a concerted effort to catch every episode of their favorite TNT dramas. The following are the final Live + 7 figures for episodes airing the week of July 23:

· The Closer (July 23): 7.8 million viewers; 1.9 million adults 18-49; 2.4 million adults 25-54

· Perception (July 23): 6.3 million viewers; 1.7 million adults 18-49; 2.2 million adults 25-54.

· Rizzoli & Isles (July 24): 8.0 million viewers; 2.5 million adults 18-49; 3.0 million adults 25-54

· Franklin & Bash (July 24): 4.0 million viewers; 1.7 million adults 18-49; 1.8 million adults 25-54

· Dallas (July 25): 4.8 million viewers; 1.7 million adults 18-49; 2.0 million adults 25-54

Cartoon Network

Midway through August 2012, Cartoon Network again ranked as basic cable's #1 network for Early Prime (7-9 p.m.) delivery of boys 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14. Early Prime delivery of key kid demos also grew vs. the same time period last year - kids 2-11 by 9% and kids 6-11 by 3%. Total Day delivery also grew among kids 6-11 by 1% and kids 9-14 by 4% vs. last year.

Cartoon Network's Monday night comedy line-up (7-9 p.m.) ranked #1 on basic cable among kids 2-11 and boys 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14. Ratings powerhouse Adventure Time (Monday, 7:30 p.m.) ranked as the #1 telecast of the day among all boys 2-11 & 6-11 on basic cable, and #1 in its time period among kids 2-11 & 6-11, plus all boy demos. Similarly, Regular Show (Monday, 8 p.m.) scored as the #1 telecast of the week/day among boys 9-14, and #1 in its time period among kids 2-11 & 6-11, and all boys.

Wednesday night's presentation of Ninjago (8 p.m.) scored as the #1 telecast of the week among boys 2-11 & 6-11, earning double and triple-digit delivery gains across all kids and boy demos, ranging between 64% and 122% compared to the same time period last year.

Saturday morning's (6:30-11 a.m.) action-adventure line-up continues to fuel delivery growth among kids 6-11 & 9-14 as well as boys 2-11 & 6-11. Compared to the 2011 time period, overall kids 6-11 delivery grew by 5%, kids 9-14 by 4%, boys 2-11 by 9% and boys 6-11 also by 9%.

Adult Swim

Adult Swim continued its streak as basic cable's #1 network for Total Day Delivery of young adults 18-34, 18-49 and 18-24 as well as men 18-34, 18-49 & 18-24. Adult Swim also ranked #2 in Prime Time delivery of adults 18-34 among basic cable networks, behind only sister channel TBS.

Among Adult Swim's original programming, a premiere episode of Childrens Hospital (Thursday, 12 a.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among adults 18-34 & 18-24. Similarly, a new episode of Aqua Something You Know Whatever (Sunday, 12 a.m.) also ranked #1 in its time period among adults 18-24, increasing delivery by 20% compared to the same time period last year.

Adult Swim programming - including Family Guy, Robot Chicken and American Dad - accounted for 21 of the top 50 telecasts of the week on basic cable among adults 18-34, more than any other network.

TBS

With its blend of original comedies, acquired sitcoms and hit movies, TBS took ratings gold last week, ranking as basic cable's #1 network in primetime delivery of adults 18-34 and adults 18-49.

More than 1.9 million viewers sidled up to the bar for last Thursday's episode of TBS's Sullivan & Son, up 10% over the prior week. The show also drew 491,000 adults 18-34, up a remarkable 39% over the previous week's episode, and more than 1 million adults 18-49, up 9%.

New episodes of TBS's hit Tyler Perry series highlighted the Friday night lineup. Tyler Perry's House of Payne ended its six-year run with more than 1.4 million viewers for the 8 p.m. hour. It was followed by two new episodes of Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse, which averaged 1.7 million viewers in the 9 p.m. hour.

TBS's CONAN scored solid growth last week, despite heavy competition. The late-night series averaged 827,000 viewers in Live + Same Day, up 8% vs. the prior week. Demos were also up, with adults 18-34 growing 46% over the prior week to 265,000, while adults 18-49 grew 22% to 549,000. For the summer-to-date, CONAN's audience has grown 4% compared to last summer.

TBS's Sunday night telecast of the blockbuster comedy The Hangover brought in more than 1.7 million viewers and ranked as cable's #1 movie presentation for the week among adults 18-49.

truTV

truTV enjoyed another strong week, ranking as one of ad-supported cable's Top 10 networks in primetime delivery of adults 18-49, men 18-34 and men 18-49. It was also one of cable's Top 10 entertainment networks among total viewers for the week.

truTV's breakout hit Lizard Lick Towing (Monday 10 p.m.) hitched up 2.3 million viewers last week and ranked as cable's #1 entertainment program in the timeslot with adults 18-49 and key male demos. It also scored a Top 5 ranking in the time period with adults 18-34 and total viewers. Yielding triple-digit growth across the board compared to the same day/time last year, Lizard Lick Towing also garnered a median age of only 36, a four-year drop for the timeslot.

Hardcore Pawn (Tuesday 9 p.m.) scored a first-place ad-supported cable ranking among men 18-49 in its timeslot, as well as Top 5 rankings with total viewers (2.4 million), adults 18-49 and men 18-34. The episode also charted double-digit growth for the time period with adults 18-49, men 18-49 and total viewers.

Storage Hunters (Sunday 10 p.m.) delivered more than 1.6 million viewers, up 7% over the prior week. The hit show ranked as one of ad-supported cable's Top 5 programs in the timeslot with men 18-49 and chalked up double-digit time-period growth among total viewers and key demos.