TNT's "Legends" Climbs to 8 Million Viewers Across Multiple Platforms

Premiere Audience Expands via DVRs, VOD, Digital On-Demand and Encores

TNT Claims Seven of Basic Cable's Top 10 Dramas for the Week

Eight million viewers and counting have watched the premiere episode of TNT's new original series Legends. The drama starring Sean Bean has more than tripled the initial Live + Same Day audience for last Wednesday's premiere telecast, with viewers catching the show through their DVRs, VOD, digital on-demand and a pair of Saturday encores. Legends is the latest series to join TNT's summer slate, which last week accounted for seven of basic cable's Top 10 dramas, with Major Crimes, Rizzoli & Isles and The Last Ship leading the pack.

"It's clear from the rapidly growing audience for Legends that the show has captured the attention of viewers," said Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "We are very excited by this early response to Legends, which continues TNT's expansion into quality genre fare. We look forward to seeing its numbers continue to rise as more and more viewers check it out."

The audience for the premiere episode of TNT's Legends includes 4.3 million viewers who watched the initial telecast or one of the three encore presentations live on TNT, as well as 3.2 million viewers who watched a recording of the show on their DVR. The audience also includes 466,000 viewers who watched on through TNT On-Demand on their set-top boxes and more than 27,000 viewers who watched through TNT's digital on-demand.

TNT subscribers can continue to catch the premiere episode of Legends, with limited commercial interruption presented by the all-new 2015 Hyundai Genesis, via TNT On Demand, the Watch TNT mobile app and TNTDrama.com. The second episode of Legends is slated to premiere tomorrow night at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) on TNT.

TNT Dramas Dominate the Week

TNT's summer slate scored another spectacular week as the network claimed seven of basic cable's Top 10 dramas. In addition, nearly the entire slate of TNT dramas saw growth over prior weeks.

Major Crimes closed out its summer run by ranking as basic cable's #1 program for the week. The summer finale has so far drawn 7.3 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery (+8% vs. the prior week), including 2.0 million adults 25-54 (+4%) and 1.6 million adults 18-49 (+10%). Meanwhile, the July 28 episode of Major Crimes grew to a final tally of 8.1 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, its biggest audience of the summer. Now in its third season, Major Crimes is showing across-the-board growth compared to season two, including a +5% increase with total viewers.

Rizzoli & Isles came in second for the week behind Major Crimes in Live + Same Day delivery, but pulled ahead through time-shifted viewing with 7.6 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery (+5% vs. the prior week). In key demos, last week's episode has risen to 2.4 million adults 25-54 (+4%) and 2.0 million adults 18-49 (+3%) in Live + 3. Fans also pushed the July 29 episode of Rizzoli & Isles to 7.8 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery.

The Last Ship, the third most-watched drama for the week, scored across-the-board growth with its Aug. 10 episode, with 6.7 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery (+10% vs. the prior week), 2.5 million adults 25-54 (+5%) and 2.0 million adults 18-49 (+3%). The Aug. 3 episode, meanwhile, brought in a total of 6.6 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, with 2.7 million adults 25-54 and 2.2 million adults 18-49. The Last Ship continues to rank as basic cable's #1 new series for the year-to-date.

Murder in the First drew 4.8 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for its season finale last Monday (+18% vs. the prior week). In key demos, the show has garnered 1.3 million adults 25-54 (+13%) and 899,000 adults 18-49 (+12%) in Live + 3 delivery. Meanwhile, the July 28 episode of Murder in the First grew to a final total of 4.6 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery (+5% vs. the prior week), with 1.4 million adults 25-54 (+13%) and 1.1 million adults 18-49 (+20%). Murder in the First ranks behind TNT's The Last Ship among basic cable's top new series for the year-to-date.

Perception has drawn 4.3 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for last Tuesday's episode (+3% vs. the prior week), including 1.5 million adults 25-54 (+9%) and 1.2 million adults 18-49 (+12%). In addition, Perception's July 29 episode scored 4.4 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, with 1.5 million adults 25-54 and 1.1 million adults 18-49.

TNT's summer slate also includes the epic sci-fi drama Falling Skies, which has grown to 3.9 million viewers in Live + 3 delivery for its Aug. 10 episode and 4.7 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery for its Aug. 3 episode. And Franklin & Bash launched its fourth season with more than 2.2 million viewers in Live + 3 for last Wednesday's opener.

On the unscripted front, TNT's real-life investigative series Cold Justice scored strong growth with its season finale Friday night. The show brought in 1.5 million viewers in Live + Same Day delivery, +13% over the prior week, while demos were up by +10% among adults 25-54 and +7% with adults 18-49. Cold Justice has enjoyed strong growth this summer, with 2.3 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery (+21% compared to its winter episodes).

TNT's Summer-to-Date Ratings

Through the third week of August, TNT continues to rank as basic cable's #1 network in primetime among total viewers for the summer-to-date. TNT's Rizzoli & Isles, Major Crimes and The Last Ship continue to rank as basic cable's Top 3 most-watched scripted series for the summer-to-date. They are joined by Falling Skies, Murder in the First and Perception in giving TNT six of basic cable's Top 10 scripted series this summer:

#1 Rizzoli & Isles: 7.5 million viewers for the summer-to-date (Live + 7 blended)
#2 Major Crimes: 6.9 million viewers
#3 The Last Ship: 6.3 million viewers
Falling Skies: 4.4 million viewers
Murder in the First: 4.3 million viewers
Perception: 4.2 million viewers

In key demos, TNT's new blockbuster The Last Ship and ongoing hit Rizzoli & Isles lead the pack in giving TNT four of basic cable's Top 5 scripted series this summer with adults 25-54:

#1 The Last Ship: 2.5 million adults 25-54 (Live + 7 blended)
#2 Rizzoli & Isles: 2.5 million adults 25-54
Major Crimes: 2.1 million adults 25-54
Falling Skies: 2.0 million adults 25-54

Among adults 18-49, TNT holds three of the Top 5 scripted series this summer:

The Last Ship: 2.0 million adults 18-49 (Live + 7 blended)
Rizzoli & Isles: 2.0 million adults 18-49
Falling Skies: 1.7 million adults 18-49

Collectively, TNT's summer originals are bringing in many more viewers than last year. For the summer-to-date, the network's original series are averaging 5.6 million viewers in Live + 7 delivery, a +27% increase over the same time last year. Demo deliveries have grown by double-digit percentages, with this summer's TNT originals bringing in +15% more adults 25-54 and +10% more adults 18-49 than last summer.

Source: Nielsen P2+ reach for original PR and Encores through 5 days post premiere, 6 min qualifier, Live and DVR + 3 blended with Same Day, Rentrak VOD total transactions; Omniture; and Bango digital on-demand starts. Gross is a sum of these totals and is not necessarily unduplicated.

About TNT

TNT is television's destination for drama. Seen in 101 million households and ranking among cable's top networks, TNT is home to such original drama series as Rizzoli & Isles, Major Crimes, Falling Skies, The Last Ship, Legends, Murder in the First, Perception, Dallas and Franklin & Bash. TNT's upcoming slate of original scripted dramas includes The Librarians, Public Morals, Proof and Transporter The Series, which will make its U.S. television debut on the network this fall. TNT also features such dramatic unscripted series as Cold Justice and the upcoming On the Menu and Wake Up Call. In addition, TNT is the cable home to popular dramas like Hawaii Five-0, Castle, The Mentalist, Bones and Supernatural; primetime specials, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards(R); blockbuster movies; and championship sports coverage, including NASCAR, the NBA and the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship.

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