Six Degrees film wins 6.7 million US viewers 15 February 08

National Geographic Channel's premiere of Six Degrees could change the world reached an audience of 6.7 million people in the US when transmitted on Sunday night, 10 February.

This rating placed the channel 8th amongst all advertising-supported cable networks, ahead of all non-fiction competitors, according to figures released by Nielsen Media Research. Following is the text of the press release.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL’S PREMIERE OF SIX DEGREES COULD CHANGE THE WORLD REACHED 6.7 MILLION PEOPLE SUNDAY NIGHT

NGC Ranks 8th Among Ad-supported Cable Networks with Target P25-54

(WASHINGTON, D.C. — February 12, 2008) National Geographic Channel’s (NGC) 2-hour premiere of Six Degrees Could Change the World last Sunday, February 10 averaged a HH 1.18AA% and a P25-54 0.70AA% from 8-10pm ET, placing 8th among all ad-supported cable networks in P25-54, ahead of all non-fiction competitors. These results extend the momentum the network achieved during 2007, which was NGC’s highest rated year across multiple metrics including HH, P25-54, M25-54 and W25-54.

Over three airings (8pm, 10pm and 12am) Six Degrees Could Change the World reached 4,984,000 households, 6,783,000 people and 3,532,000 persons 25-54. Additionally the premiere’s household rating was up 146% and the demo rating was up 112% compared to the six week average for the 8p-10p timeslot. Local cable households were also up significantly, including a 1.99 HH AA% in the New York City metro area.

Six Degrees Could Change the World visualizes in high definition the devastating ecological impact that each single degree increase in temperature could have on our planet over the next century. Narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Alec Baldwin, the film travels to five continents and joins the world’s top climate researchers as they decipher the warning sings of global warming that are visible today.

The special will encore Thursday, February 14 at 8 pm ET/PT.

NGC currently reaches nearly 66 million homes in the United States and is carried by every major cable and satellite operator. NGC has scored success across all measures, earning some of the fastest distribution growth in the history of cable and more recently the largest audience growth in television.

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Source: Nielsen Media Research. Live Program Ratings. Program dayparts, SU 8-10pm. Reach based on SU 8P-2A, HH, P2+, P25-54, 1 min qualifier.

Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channel (NGC) is a joint venture between National Geographic Ventures (NGV) and Fox Cable Networks (FCN). Since launching in January 2001, NGC initially earned some of the fastest distribution growth in the history of cable and more recently the fastest ratings growth in television. The network celebrated its fifth anniversary January 2006 with the launch of NGC HD which provides the spectacular imagery that National Geographic is known for in stunning high-definition. NGC has carriage with all of the nation’s major cable and satellite television providers, making it currently available to 66 million homes. For more information, please visit www.nationalgeographic.com/channel.