A&E Posts Best Year In Network History - 2009 Marks The Sixth Consecutive Year Of Growth Among Adults 18-49 And 25-54

Network Ranks Numbers 4 In Adults 25-54, 5 In Adults 18-49 And 5 In Total Viewers Among All Entertainment Cable Networks

A&E is wrapping up the best year in the network's history among all key demographics, including adults 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. This achievement will mark an astonishing sixth straight year of growth among the key adults 18-49 and 25-54 demographics for the twenty-five year-old network.

Among all entertainment cable networks in 2009, A&E ranks number 4 in adults 25-54, number 5 in adults 18-49 and number 5 in total viewers (up from number 6 in 2008). With just a week left in the year, A&E is averaging 1.4 million total viewers in prime, up 8% over 2008. A&E has also out-delivered 2008 impressions among adults 25-54 (703,000) and 18-49 (671,000), in 2009.

"2009 was marked by the strong performance of A&E's unparalleled slate of original programming," said Bob DeBitetto, President and General Manager of A&E and BIO. "It has truly been an outstanding year for the network with strong growth in a very competitive landscape. Our exceptional performance in 2009 was fueled by the introduction of new hit series 'Hoarders' and 'Steven Seagal Lawman,' as well as the strength of our established franchises such as 'Intervention,' 'Gene Simmons Family Jewels,' 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' and 'The First 48,' giving us great momentum heading into 2010."

In just five short years, A&E has risen 6 spots in adults 25-54 (from #10 to #4), 7 spots among total viewers (from #12 to #5) and an amazing 10 notches in adults 18-49 (from #15 to #5). Among the target demo of adults 25-54, A&E has finished among cable's top ten networks for 41 consecutive months.

For the month of December 2009, A&E is up 36% among total viewers (1.9 million), 31% among adults 25-54 (926,000) and 29% among adults 18-49 (874,000), versus December 2008, marking the best month ever in the network's history. A&E is also poised for the best quarter in network history among total viewers (1.6 million) and adults 25-54 (753,000), for the fourth quarter of 2009.

In 2009 A&E was again recognized for its excellence in programming, this time receiving the Emmy award for Outstanding Reality Program for the hit series "Intervention."