"PETALS ON THE WIND" STIRS UP 3.4 MILLION VIEWERS

Los Angeles, CA (May 27, 2014) - V.C. Andrews and the Dollanganger saga continue to prove to be a powerful force among television viewers. Last night's world premiere of the Lifetime Original Movie Petals on the Wind (#PetalsOnTheWind), starring Heather Graham and Ellen Burstyn, delivered 3.4 million Total Viewers, according to Nielsen Research. The film, based on the second gothic novel of Andrews' iconic series about the Dollanganger family, averaged 1.5 million Adults 18-49 viewers (+36% versus Lifetime's year-to-date original movie average), 1.5 million Adults 25-54 viewers (+15%), 1.3 million Women 25-54 viewers (+39%) and 1.2 million Women 18-49 viewers (+38%).

Petals on the Wind ranks as one of Lifetime's most-watched original movies of the year. Across ad-supported cable, the network has the top four movie telecasts of 2014 with Total Viewers, including Flowers in the Attic, Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, The Gabby Douglas Story and Petals on the Wind.

Lifetime will encore Petals on the Wind tonight at 7:00pm ET/PT. It will air again tomorrow night at 8:00pm ET/PT and be followed by the Lifetime Original Movie Flowers in the Attic.

A decade after Cathy (Rose McIver, Masters of Sex, Once Upon a Time), Christopher (Wyatt Nash, Pretty Little Liars) and Carrie (Bailey Buntain, Bunheads) escaped from their grandparents' attic at Foxworth Hall, Petals on the Wind continues to follow the twisted plight of the Dollanganger family as they attempt to put their sordid past behind them, but soon discover certain secrets can't be left behind. When Cathy finds herself in an abusive relationship with a fellow dancer, Julian (Will Kemp, 90210), Christopher and Cathy are forced to face the forbidden feelings they developed for one another while coming of age during captivity. But when tragedy strikes the Dollangangers once again, Cathy returns to Foxworth Hall to confront her grandmother Olivia (Burstyn) and seek revenge on her mother, Corrine (Graham), with a plan to seduce her husband Bart (Dylan Bruce, Orphan Black). When Christopher runs to Cathy's side, the two are determined to start over again - together.

Petals on the Wind was produced by A+E Studios in association with Silver Screen Pictures. The movie was executive produced by Merideth Finn (Flowers in the Attic) and Michele Weiss (Flowers in the Attic) of Cue the Dog Productions, along with Charles W. Fries of Fries Film Company. Rob Sharenow, Tanya Lopez and Lisa Hamilton Daly executive produced for Lifetime. Richard D. Arredondo (Abducted: The Carlina White Story) and Kyle A. Clark (Liz & Dick) of Silver Screen Pictures produced the film. The teleplay was written by Kayla Alpert (Flowers in the Attic) and Karen Moncrieff (Blue Car) directed.

Andrews' first published novel, Flowers in the Attic was an instant hit when it was released in 1979, topping bestseller lists in just two weeks. After Lifetime's January premiere of Flowers in the Attic, the novel quickly returned to the bestseller list after a 30-year absence. To date, 106 million copies of V.C. Andrews' books have been published in 95 countries.

Lifetime is currently in development on three additional V.C. Andrews books, including If There Be Thorns and Seeds of Yesterday, both from the Dollanganger series, and the standalone novel My Sweet Audrina.

ABOUT A+E STUDIOS

A+E Studios is the in-house production arm of the award-winning global media company A+E Networks, LLC. A+E Studios commissions, creates and co-produces content across all networks and platforms under the A+E Networks portfolio, including A&E(R) Network, Lifetime(R), HISTORY(R), LMN(R), FYI(TM), H2(TM) and A&E IndieFilms(R).

ABOUT LIFETIME

Lifetime is a premier female-focused entertainment destination dedicated to offering the highest quality original programming spanning scripted series, non-fiction series and movies. As a result of the network's aggressive programming strategy that has doubled the hours of its original programming, 2013 marked Lifetime's second straight year of growth among Total Viewers. Lifetime Television(R), LMN(R), Lifetime Real Women(R) and Lifetime Digital(TM) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.