A&E'S "BATES MOTEL" OPENS FOR BUSINESS WITH 4.6 MILLION VIEWERS ON PREMIERE NIGHT

NEW DRAMA SERIES STARRING VERA FARMIGA AND FREDDIE HIGHMORE BECOMES THE MOST-WATCHED DRAMA SERIES PREMIERE AMONG ADULTS 18-49 AND 25-54 IN NETWORK HISTORY

New York, NY - March 19, 2013 - The premiere of A&E Network's new original scripted drama series, "Bates Motel," was watched by 4.6 million total viewers, 2.5 million adults 25-54 and 2.4 million adults 18-49 on premiere night. The 10PM premiere episode was watched by 3.0 million total viewers as well as 1.6 million adults 18-49 and 25-54, becoming the networks most-watched original drama series debut among the key 18-49 and 25-54 demos.

"Bates Motel' represents the very best of quality storytelling with an incredible cast led by Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore," said Bob DeBitetto, President and GM of A&E Network and BIO Channel. "We are extremely pleased with the initial viewer response to this edgy and provocative series and are confident that it will continue to draw in new audiences."

New episodes of "Bates Motel" premiere every Monday at 10PM ET/PT. An encore presentation of the premiere episode will air Wednesday, March 20 at 11PM ET/PT after all-new episodes of "Duck Dynasty."

"Bates Motel" is a contemporary prequel to the genre-defining film "Psycho," and promises to give viewers an intimate portrayal of how Norman Bates' psyche unravels through his teenage years. Fans will have access to the dark, twisted backstory of Norman Bates and how deeply intricate his relationship with his mother, Norma, truly is. The series stars Academy Award nominee Vera Farmiga ("Up in the Air," "The Departed"), Freddie Highmore ("Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Finding Neverland"), Max Thieriot ("Disconnect"), Olivia Cooke ("Blackout") and Nicola Peltz ("The Last Airbender"). Season one also co-stars Nestor Carbonell ("Lost," "The Dark Knight Rises") and Mike Vogel ("Pan Am").

"Bates Motel" is produced by Universal Television for A&E Network. Carlton Cuse and Kerry Ehrin serve as executive producers for Carlton Cuse Productions.

About A&E Network

A&E is "Real Life. Drama." Now reaching more than 99 million homes, A&E is television that you can't turn away from; where unscripted shows are dramatic and scripted dramas are authentic. A&E offers a diverse mix of high quality entertainment ranging from the network's original scripted series, including "The Glades," "Longmire" and "Bates Motel," to signature non-fiction franchises, including the Emmy-winning "Intervention," "Duck Dynasty," "Beyond Scared Straight" and "Storage Wars," and the most successful justice shows on cable, including "The First 48." The A&E website is located at www.aetv.com.

*Premiere night numbers based on two telecast (premiere and immediate encore).