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Cartoon Network

“Ben 10: Race Against Time” Scores As Cartoon Network’s Most Watched Premiere Ever

Author: Nickandmore!

[via press release]

BEN 10: RACE AGAINST TIME Scores as Cartoon Network’s Most-Watched Telecast in Network History and #1 Show of the Day Among Boys

Live-Action Superhero Beats All Cartoon Network Programming Among Kids 6-11, Kids 2-11 Since January 2002

Cartoon Network Also Posts Its Most-Watched Total Day Ever with Kids 6-11, Kids 2-11

Young Ben Tennyson proved his supernatural delivery and ratings strength last Wednesday night when Cartoon Network premiered the original live-action movie special BEN 10: RACE AGAINST TIME (8:00 p.m., ET/PT), setting all-new records as the most-watched telecast in Cartoon Network history, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research.  The 90-minute live-action film delivered 3,987,000 viewers age 2+, out-performing the network’s 2002 presentation of Dragon Ball Z, which previously held the #1 ranking.  This outstanding performance propelled BEN 10: RACE AGAINST TIME to the #1 telecast of the day on all television—among both cable and broadcast—with boys 6-11 and boys 2-11.  Moreover, Cartoon Network posted its most-watched day ever in total day delivery with kids 6-11 (785,000), kids 2-11 (1,101,000), boys 6-11 (615,000) and boys 2-11 (840,000).

BEN 10: RACE AGAINST TIME also scored as the most-watched Cartoon Network telecast in more than five years among kids 6-11 (1,466,000) and kids 2-11 (2,084,000), narrowly missing a November 2001 telecast of Dragon Ball Z and a January 2002 telecast of Scooby-Doo and the Cyberchase, respectively.

Additionally, BEN 10: RACE AGAINST TIME set a new record as Cartoon Network’s most-watched telecast ever among boys 2-11 (1,621,000).  The made-for-TV film also tied Cartoon Network’s current record as the most-watched telecast among boys 6-11 (1,210,000), which equaled a 2001 telecast of Dragon Ball Z.  Online at CartoonNetwork.com, last week’s Cartoon Network Video sneak peek of BEN 10: RACE AGAINST TIME garnered the #1 most-played video spot with nearly 666,000 plays.  Also, the Ben 10: Race Against Time “Savage Pursuit” online game secured 14.8 million game plays since its Oct. 15 launch.

Highlights of BEN 10: RACE AGAINST TIME’s premiere performance vs. the same time period last year include the following:

BEN 10: RACE AGAINST TIME Premiere (Wednesday, 8 p.m.) vs. the same 2006 time period

  • Persons 2+ delivery (3,987,000) increased by 86%, and ratings (1.4) by 75%—best performance in Cartoon Network history
  • Kids 6-11 delivery (1,466,000) grew by 115%, and ratings (6.0) by 114%—top performance since Nov. 2001
  • Kids 2-11 delivery (2,084,000) improved by 137%, and ratings (5.2) by 136—top performance since Jan. 2002
  • Boys 6-11 delivery (1,210,000) expanded by 122%, and ratings (9.7) by 120%—tied best performance in 2001
  • Boys 2-11 delivery (1,621,000) catapulted by 142%, and ratings (7.9) by 139%—best performance in Cartoon Network history

BEN 10: RACE AGAINST TIME is Cartoon Network’s first live-action made-for-TV movie based on its hit animated action-adventure series, Ben 10, about a young boy, who with the flick of a powerful alien wristwatch (The Omnitrix) can turn into 10 different aliens with amazing superpowers.  Graham Phillips (Evan Almighty) stars as Ben Tennyson, a normal 10-year-old boy who is able to transform himself into a variety of super aliens like the powerful Heatblast or the beastly Wildmutt.  Lee Majors (The Six Million Dollar Man) also stars as Grandpa Max, who uses his past experiences with the paranormal to guide and protect his grandchildren, Ben and Gwen, through their many adventures in fighting evil.  Alex Winter of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure directed the live-action and CGI film for Cartoon Network.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in nearly 91 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families.  Overnight from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.

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

RATING PERIOD:  11/21/07

SOURCE:  Turner Entertainment Research from Preliminary Nielsen Media Research data, based on most current data available (Live+SD).  Complete and final data (Live+7) will be available in two weeks.  These television ratings data are reproduced here with permission from Nielsen Media Research.  Reproduction of these data in volume, without permission from Nielsen Media Research, is prohibited.

NOTES:  All ratings based on Total U.S. Television Universe of 112,800,000 homes.