The sixth season premiere episode of Sons of Anarchy (9/10/13, 10-11:33 PM) was television’s #1-rated program on Tuesday – broadcast and cable – in delivery of Adults 18-49, Adults 18-34, Adults 25-54, Men 18-49 and 18-34, and Women 18-49 and 18-34, and it posted healthy increases over its fifth season debut. Additionally, last night’s debut episode of the penultimate season of Sons of Anarchy will likely become the #1-rated single telecast in FX history when Live+7 data becomes available in approximately three weeks.
Last night’s premiere ratings for Sons of Anarchy were series highs across the board on a Live+Same Day basis.
The Season 6 premiere recorded 5.87 million Total Viewers, 3.94 million A18-49 (3.1 rtg), 2.0 million A18-34 (2.9 rtg), and 3.90 million Adults 25-54 (3.3 rtg). Compared with its Season 5 debut (9/11/12, 10-11:31PM), those are increases of +9% in Total Viewers (5.37 million), +13% in A18-49 (3.51 million), +6% in Adults 18-34 (1.86 million), +13% in A25-54 (3.45 million). The increases were astounding among Women 18-34 (973,000, 2.9 rtg) and Women 18-49 (1.83 million. 2.9 rtg), +43% and +35% respectively versus year ago (680,000 and 1.35 million). It delivered 2.12 million Men 18-49 (3.4 rtg) and 1.01 million Men 18-34 (3.0 rtg).
The premiere telecast and encore runs combined to deliver 8.09 million Total Viewers and 5.30 million Adults 18-49.
On a Live+Same Day basis, last night’s delivery of Adults 18-49 for SOA was the most of any program in FX’s history. On a Live+7 basis, the Season 5 premiere telecast of Sons of Anarchy ranks as the most-watched program ever for FX with 7.15 million Total Viewers and 4.80 million Adults 18-49.
On a Live+Same Day basis, last night’s Sons of Anarchy is the second highest-rated scripted series cable season premiere this year in Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49, and Adults/Men/Women 25-54.
In next week’s episode, “One One Six” (Airs September 17, 10:00 pm e/p), Jax (Charlie Hunnam) deals with collateral damage as external pressure continues to stack up against SAMCRO. (Written by Chris Collins & Adria Lang; directed by Peter Weller).
About Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is an adrenalized drama with darkly comedic undertones that explores a notorious outlaw motorcycle club’s (MC) desire to protect its livelihood while ensuring that their simple, sheltered town of Charming, California remains exactly that, charming. The MC must confront threats from drug dealers, corporate developers, and overzealous law officers. Behind the MC’s familial lifestyle and legally thriving automotive shop is a ruthless and illegal arms business driven by the seduction of money, power, and blood. Jackson ‘Jax’ Teller (Charlie Hunnam) is SAMCRO’s new President who must face the consequences of the MC’s illicit deeds before they tear the club apart. Gemma Teller-Morrow (Katey Sagal) is Jax’s formidable mother. Clarence ‘Clay’ Morrow (Ron Perlman) is Jax’s stepfather, the last of the Original Nine and former President. Dr. Tara Knowles (Maggie Siff) is Jax’s old lady and mother of his second son.
Having framed Clay for the murder of Damon Pope, Season Six begins with Jax’s leadership uncontested, but his family life suffering from his single-minded pursuit of John Teller’s vision. Jax must find a way to keep Tara from going to prison for conspiracy to commit murder while rebuilding his club and breaking from the cycle of violence and greed that ultimately led to his best friend’s death.
The series stars Charlie Hunnam, Katey Sagal, Ron Perlman, Maggie Siff, Kim Coates, Mark Boone Junior, Tommy Flanagan, Theo Rossi, Dayton Callie and Jimmy Smits.
Sons of Anarchy was created by Kurt Sutter, and is executive produced by Sutter, Paris Barclay, Chris Collins, John Linson, and Art Linson. The series is produced by Fox 21 and FX Productions.
SOURCE: The Nielsen Company, Live+Same Day
About FX
FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable channel of FX Networks, a business unit of 21st Century Fox. FX Networks is comprised of FX, FXM, and FXX, its newest channel which launched in early September 2013. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 98 million homes. The diverse schedule features a growing roster of critically acclaimed and award-winning hit dramas series, including Sons of Anarchy, Justified, The Americans and The Bridge; the miniseries American Horror Story: Coven; and the acclaimed hit comedy series Louie, Archer and Wilfred. The network’s library of acquired box-office hit movies is unmatched by any ad-supported television network. FX’s roster of acquired hit series includes Two and a Half Men, Anger Management and, coming in 2014, Mike & Molly.