USA’s “Royal Pains” debuted two weeks ago to just so-so reviews. The Newark Star Ledger's Alan Sepinwall summed it up this way: “Premiering immediately after ‘Burn Notice,’ ‘Royal Pains’ can’t help but suffer in comparison, but it’s not a bad summer diversion."
But as it turns out the lukewarm critics’ welcome didn’t much matter with viewers.
The show, about a disgraced New York doctor who finds a second career as a private medic to rich people in the Hamptons, premiered to huge ratings. And unlike the vast majority of new series, it actually improved in its second outing last Thursday.
Last week it was the No. 3 cable show in primetime in total viewers with 5.6 million people tuning in, just better than flat to the prior week, even outdrawing “Burn Notice,” now in its third season, which ranked No. 5 with 5.2 million viewers.
In 18-49s, “Royal” ranked No. 4 with 2.3 million viewers, up 2 percent from its premiere.
In 25-54s it ranked No. 6 with 2.6 million viewers, up 3 percent from 2.5 million for its premiere.
It did less well among younger viewers, failing to make the top 10 in 18-34s, which was dominated by repeats of “Family Guy” on Adult Swim.
“Royal” has several things going for it, and right up there is that it's a light drama well suited for summer viewing. It’s also easy to look at, with its sweeping shots of the Manhattan skyline and Hamptons mansions. And it has a likeable star in Mark Feuerstein, who until now was best known for NBC’s short-lived “Good Morning, Miami.”
Meanwhile, USA ranked No. 1 in all key adult demographic groups for the week ending June 14. TNT was No. 2. It is doing well with its own summer series, including its biggest, “The Closer.”
***
In cable ratings for the week ended June 14:
Top five networks in primetime (18-49s): USA, TNT, TBS, Discovery Channel, FX.
Top five networks in primetime (total viewers): USA, TNT, Fox News Channel, AMC, Nick at Nite.
Top movie (18-49s): TNT’s “The Pursuit of Happyness” (Saturday, 8 p.m.) 1.29 million.
Top sporting event (total viewers): TNT’s “Sprint Cup Racing/Michigan” (Sunday, 1:59 p.m.) 5.12 million.
Shows making the top 10 among 18-34s, 18-49s and 25-54s: TLC’s “Jon & Kate Plus 8” (Monday, 9 p.m.); USA’s “WWE Raw” (Monday, 9 and 10 p.m.).
Show on the rise: History Channel’s “Ice Road Truckers,” Sunday 9 p.m. The series jumped 12 percent week-to-week among 18-49s, from 1.37 million viewers to 1.54 million.
Show on the decline: E!’s “Kendra,” Sunday 10 p.m. The reality series fell 39 percent week-to-week among viewers 18-49, from 2.02 million to 1.24 million.
|
TOP 25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Ranked on Household Rating
Week Ending June 14 |
|
Rank |
Primetime |
Total Day |
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
USA
|
2528
|
NICK
|
1604
|
|
2
|
TNT
|
1728
|
USA
|
1259
|
|
3
|
FOXN
|
1660
|
NAN
*
|
1238
|
|
4
|
AMC
|
1298
|
TNT
|
1070
|
|
5
|
NAN
|
1241
|
ADSM*
|
1010
|
|
6
|
TBSC
|
1136
|
FOXN
|
946
|
|
7
|
HGTV
|
1080
|
TOON
|
881
|
|
8
|
TOON
|
1041
|
TBSC
|
704
|
|
9
|
DISC
|
999
|
AMC
|
622
|
|
10
|
AEN
|
983
|
ESPN
|
607
|
|
11
|
TLC
|
973
|
DISC
|
600
|
|
12
|
LIF
|
960
|
TRU
|
597
|
|
13
|
HIST
|
940
|
AEN
|
586
|
|
14
|
FX
|
930
|
HIST
|
574
|
|
15
|
FAM
|
883
|
FOOD
|
567
|
|
16
|
FOOD
|
881
|
HGTV
|
555
|
|
17
|
ESPN
|
874
|
LIF
|
547
|
|
18
|
SCIF
|
770
|
FX
|
527
|
|
19
|
HALL
|
767
|
FAM
|
495
|
|
20
|
TRU
|
756
|
SPK
|
495
|
|
21
|
CMDY
|
691
|
TLC
|
468
|
|
22
|
SPK
|
648
|
TVLD
|
458
|
|
23
|
MSNB
|
614
|
HALL
|
446
|
|
24
|
BRAV
|
607
|
CNN
|
443
|
|
25
|
BET
|
576
|
MTV
|
441
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending June 14 |
|
Rank
|
Program |
Net
|
(000) |
|
1
|
The Closer
|
TNT
|
5349
|
|
2
|
Royal Pains
|
USA
|
4022
|
|
3
|
NASCAR Post Race Show
|
TNT
|
3950
|
|
4
|
Burn Notice
|
USA
|
3876
|
|
5
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
3832
|
|
6
|
Sprint Cup Racing/Michigan
|
TNT
|
3754
|
|
7
|
In Plain Sight
|
USA
|
3312
|
|
8
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
3274
|
|
9
|
Jon & Kate Plus 8
|
TLC
|
3262
|
|
10
|
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Orig)
|
USA
|
3187
|
|
11
|
Army Wives
|
LIF
|
3079
|
|
12
|
NCIS
|
USA
|
2988
|
|
13
|
NCIS
|
USA
|
2946
|
|
14
|
Deadliest Catch
|
DISC
|
2878
|
|
15
|
NCIS
|
USA
|
2811
|
|
16
|
Raising The Bar
|
TNT
|
2764
|
|
17
|
NCIS
|
USA
|
2760
|
|
18
|
NCIS
|
USA
|
2752
|
|
19
|
NCIS
|
USA
|
2746
|
|
20
|
NCIS
|
USA
|
2733
|
|
21
|
The O'Reilly Factor
|
FOXN
|
2698
|
|
22
|
Lonesome Dove Part 3 & 4
|
AMC
|
2680
|
|
23
|
Law & Order: SVU
|
USA
|
2677
|
|
24
|
The Closer Special
|
TNT
|
2663
|
|
25
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
2636
|
|
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Adults 18-34
Week Ending June 14 |
|
Rank |
PRIME TIME |
TOTAL DAY |
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
USA
|
568
|
ADSM*
|
466
|
|
2
|
TBSC
|
550
|
NAN
*
|
354
|
|
3
|
TNT
|
381
|
NICK
|
318
|
|
4
|
FX
|
355
|
TBSC
|
315
|
|
5
|
CMDY
|
331
|
USA
|
291
|
|
6
|
DISC
|
325
|
TNT
|
259
|
|
7
|
MTV
|
325
|
ESPN
|
241
|
|
8
|
TLC
|
325
|
MTV
|
235
|
|
9
|
AEN
|
297
|
CMDY
|
216
|
|
10
|
FOOD
|
278
|
FX
|
213
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS
Adults 18-34
Week Ending June 14 |
|
Rank |
PROGRAM |
NET |
(000) |
|
1
|
Jon & Kate Plus 8
|
TLC
|
1515
|
|
2
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
1460
|
|
3
|
Real World/Road Rules: The Duel 2
|
MTV
|
1301
|
|
4
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
1250
|
|
5
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1201
|
|
6
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1200
|
|
7
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1181
|
|
8
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1174
|
|
9
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1075
|
|
10
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1072
|
|
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Adults 18-49
Week Ending June 14 |
|
Rank |
PRIME TIME |
TOTAL DAY |
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
USA
|
1370
|
USA
|
662
|
|
2
|
TNT
|
950
|
NAN
*
|
631
|
|
3
|
TBSC
|
912
|
ADSM*
|
624
|
|
4
|
DISC
|
743
|
TNT
|
618
|
|
5
|
FX
|
703
|
TBSC
|
546
|
|
6
|
AEN
|
640
|
NICK
|
503
|
|
7
|
TLC
|
613
|
ESPN
|
415
|
|
8
|
FOOD
|
589
|
DISC
|
401
|
|
9
|
NAN
|
555
|
FX
|
399
|
|
10
|
HIST
|
532
|
TRU
|
355
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS
Adults 18-49
Week Ending June 14 |
|
Rank |
PROGRAM |
NET |
(000) |
|
1
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
2879
|
|
2
|
Deadliest Catch
|
DISC
|
2662
|
|
3
|
Jon & Kate Plus 8
|
TLC
|
2482
|
|
4
|
Royal Pains
|
USA
|
2348
|
|
5
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
2325
|
|
6
|
NASCAR Post Race Show
|
TNT
|
2271
|
|
7
|
The Closer
|
TNT
|
2249
|
|
8
|
Sprint Cup Racing/Michigan
|
TNT
|
2201
|
|
9
|
Burn Notice
|
USA
|
2171
|
|
10
|
Family Guy
|
ADSM
|
1770
|
|
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Adults 25-54
Week Ending June 14 |
|
|
PRIME TIME |
TOTAL DAY |
|
Rank
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
USA
|
1488
|
USA
|
699
|
|
2
|
TNT
|
1033
|
TNT
|
660
|
|
3
|
TBSC
|
765
|
NAN
*
|
500
|
|
4
|
DISC
|
745
|
TBSC
|
460
|
|
5
|
FX
|
683
|
ADSM*
|
410
|
|
6
|
AEN
|
650
|
NICK
|
390
|
|
7
|
AMC
|
623
|
DISC
|
385
|
|
8
|
FOOD
|
607
|
TRU
|
380
|
|
9
|
HIST
|
599
|
FX
|
368
|
|
10
|
TLC
|
595
|
AEN
|
367
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS
Adults 25-54
Week Ending June 14 |
|
Rank |
PROGRAM |
NET |
(000) |
|
1
|
The Closer
|
TNT
|
2938
|
|
2
|
NASCAR Post Race Show
|
TNT
|
2857
|
|
3
|
Deadliest Catch
|
DISC
|
2761
|
|
4
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
2708
|
|
5
|
Sprint Cup Racing/Michigan
|
TNT
|
2689
|
|
6
|
Royal Pains
|
USA
|
2599
|
|
7
|
Burn Notice
|
USA
|
2428
|
|
8
|
Jon & Kate Plus 8
|
TLC
|
2255
|
|
9
|
WWE Raw
|
USA
|
2159
|
|
10
|
In Plain Sight
|
USA
|
1929
|
|
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
|
