Lifetime's 'Drop Dead Diva' Delivers Its Highest Rated Episode of the Season Among Women 18-49 and Women 25-54

Lifetime's 'Drop Dead Diva' Delivers Its Highest Rated Episode of the Season Among Women 18-49 and Women 25-54

All-New Series Continues to Build Audience Week-to-Week ARMY WIVES Scores Highest Household Number of the Season with a 3.3 Rating

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- On the heels of last Thursday's record-setting launch of Lifetime Television's hit unscripted series Project Runway, Drop Dead Diva, the Network's all-new, one-hour comedic drama series, delivered its highest ratings ever last night among Women 18-49 (1.8), a 16% increase over the season-to-date average, and Women 25-54 (2.0), a 13% increase over the season-to-date average. The Series, which airs Sundays at 9 PM ET/PT and stars break-out actress Brooke Elliott and popular comedienne Margaret Cho, averaged nearly 3 million Total Viewers (2,903,430 P2+), up 7% versus its season-to-date average and posted a 2.4 Household rating, up 10% from its season-to-date average.

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Last night's episode, which featured special guest stars Kathy Najimy (King of the Hill) and Teri Polo (Meet the Parents), also grew at the half-hour mark in both demos - increasing 10% in W18-49 and 7% among W25-54. The Network formally renewed Drop Dead Diva for a second season last week, ordering 13 new episodes for 2010.

Guest stars throughout the first season of Drop Dead Diva include Paula Abdul, Rosie O'Donnell, Tim Gunn, Liza Minnelli, Delta Burke, Sharon Lawrence, Nia Vardalos, Jorja Fox, Gregory Harrison, Mark Moses, Marla Sokoloff, Shirley Knight, Faith Price, Devon Gummersall, Elliott Gould, Chuck Woolery and Diedrich Bader.

Moreover, Army Wives, which follows Drop Dead Diva at 10 PM ET/PT, continues to score solid numbers. Last night, it garnered its highest Household rating this season, posting a 3.3, which represents a 10% increase over its season-to-date average. Among W18-49, the Network's top original drama series delivered a 2.4 rating and a 2.8 rating among W25-54. Together, Drop Dead Diva and Army Wives make Lifetime the highest-rated and most watched Network in the Sunday, 9-11PM time period among W18-49.

In addition to the strong deliveries of Drop Dead Diva and Army Wives along with top performing original movies, Lifetime now has the number one unscripted competition show in ad-supported cable with Project Runway.

Last week's eagerly anticipated launch of Project Runway on Lifetime was a resounding success. The award-winning series generated a 3.2 rating among W18-49 (a 28% increase over the series' season five premiere) and a 3.3 rating in Households (up 32% from the season five premiere) on August 20, at 10PM ET/PT. The debut of Project Runway was the highest rated and most watched series premiere in both the Network's and program's history in key demos, and it was the highest rated and most watched competitive reality premiere in ad-supported cable for 2009 in the major demos, including Households, W18-34, W18-49, W25-54, W18+, A18-34, A18-49, A25-54 and P2+.

Its companion series, Models of the Runway, which premiered at 11PM ET/PT, generated a 1.4 rating among W18-49 and a 1.6 Household rating, averaging 1.9 million Total Viewers. Lifetime kicked off the launches of Project Runway and Models of the Runway with the two-hour special, Project Runway: All-Star Challenge at 8PM ET/PT, which secured a 2.2 rating in W18-49 and a 2.3 Household rating, and averaged 2.9 million Total Viewers. Lifetime dominated the night from 8 to 11:30 PM, as it ranked as the number one rated and most watched ad-supported cable network across key demos: W18-34, W18-49, W25-54, W18+, A18-34 and A18-49. Lifetime also out-delivered all broadcast networks in Prime among W18-34 last Thursday.

ABOUT LIFETIME TELEVISION

Lifetime is a diverse, multi-media company, committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming that celebrates, entertains and supports women. Through its award-winning public affairs initiatives, the Company also advocates a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women and Lifetime Digital (which includes myLifetime.com, LMN.TV, Lifetime Games, Roiworld.com, DressUpChallenge.com, Lifetimemoms.com and MothersClick.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

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Source: Lifetime

CONTACT: Cindy Ronzoni of Lifetime Networks, +1-310-407-8525,
cronzoni@lifetimetv.com; or Kannie Yu LaPack of Lifetime Television,
+1-310-556-7582, kyu@lifetimetv.com

Web Site: http://www.mylifetime.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment