‘Falling Skies’ Debuts As Cable’s Biggest Launch Of The Year

The two-hour premiere of TNT’s Falling Skies staked its ground as cable’s #1 new series launch of the year. The epic saga about the aftermath of an all-out invasion by an alien military force drew more than 5.9 million viewers, according to fast national data from Nielsen Media Research. Falling Skies, which stars Noah Wyle and comes to TNT from DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg, also delivered more than 2.6 million adults 18-49 and 3.2 million adults 25-54.

“The enormous success of Falling Skies demonstrates what can happen when you partner with the best people in the business and give them what they need to do their very best work,” said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). “TNT’s Falling Skies is an exciting, fascinating and often moving story made possible through the magic of DreamWorks Television, an incredibly talented cast led by Noah Wyle and the vision of one of the greatest storytellers of our time, Steven Spielberg.”

Falling Skies ratings highlights:

• The two-hour premiere of Falling Skies, sponsored by Hyundai, delivered 5,905,000 viewers, ranking it as cable’s #1 new series launch for 2011-to-date.

• Falling Skies also ranks as cable’s biggest scripted series debut since last year’s record-breaking launch of TNT’s Rizzoli & Isles(7.6 million on July 12, 2010). Falling Skies outperformed such high-profile launches as USA’s Covert Affairs (4.9 million viewers – July 13, 2010) and AMC’s The Walking Dead (5.3 million – Oct. 31, 2010).

• Among TNT’s key demos, Falling Skies averaged an outstanding 2,643,000 adults 18-49 and 3,240,000 adults 25-54. The show’s delivery of adults 25-54 makes it cable’s top series launch for the year-to-date.

This Sunday, Falling Skies will move to its regular 10 p.m. (ET/PT) timeslot, following the season premiere of TNT’s popular caper seriesLeverage.

Falling Skies takes place in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated. Tom Mason (Wyle), a Boston history professor and the father of three sons, must put his extensive knowledge of military history to the test as second in command of a regiment of resistance fighters protecting a large group of civilian survivors. Falling Skies also stars Moon Bloodgood. Will Patton, Drew Roy, Maxim Knight, Connor Jessup, Colin Cunningham, Sarah Sanguin Carter, Seychelle Gabriel, Mpho Koaho and Peter Shinkoda.