USA Network made history today, becoming the #1 network in all of basic cable for an unprecedented eight straight years. Those results were fueled by a strong stable of original series, the powerhouse WWE Monday Night RAW, and top-rated acquired series, including Modern Family, NCIS and Law & Order: SVU.
"We’re proud to achieve yet another record year in an incredibly competitive environment," said Chris McCumber, president of USA Network. "2013 was not only successful in terms of viewership, but also marks the most profitable year in the history of the network. With a full pipeline of an unprecedented 8 pilots in production from some of the top creative auspices in the business, 2014 looks to be another strong year."
Once again, USA dominated the summer as the home to four of the top ten scripted series in basic cable prime with Graceland, Suits, Royal Pains and Burn Notice.
Freshman drama Graceland, renewed for a second season, was one of the summer’s top new dramas on cable attracting 4.01 million total viewers. Graceland registered particularly high double-digit L7 gains.
The third season of Suits delivered 5.28 million total viewers. Recently picked-up for a fourth season, Suits ranks in 3Q13 as a top 5 cable drama and was the #1 scripted series on television, broadcast or cable, Tuesday nights among P18-49. Season three of Suits returns in March leading into the launch of new original half-hour comedy Sirens from creators Denis Leary and Bob Fisher.
In its fifth season, Royal Pains brought in 5.30 million total viewers.
The final season of Burn Notice drew 5.68 million total viewers. And, the series finale was USA’s second most-watched series finale ever behind only Monk.
WWE Mondat Night RAW – the most-watched, regularly scheduled program on cable, 52 weeks a year – made USA #1 Monday nights in 2013, delivering more total viewers than any cable entertainment network on Monday in primetime. Among M18-34, RAW was the #1 show on cable Monday nights in 2013, making USA the #1 entertainment network in all of television in this demo.
USA has three of the top acquired series in cable with Modern Family, NCIS and Law & Order: SVU. Modern Family continues to grow since its first full week on USA. The series has delivered a new audience of incredibly young viewers, who are on average 10 years younger than the average USA viewer a year ago. Law & Order: SVU scored gains in every demo versus last year.
With potent programming planned for 2014, USA Network looks to extend its dominance next year.