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Discovery Channel's 26th annual Shark Week in August was the network's most watched Shark Week ever. The success of Shark Week coupled with solid performances by hit series Amish Mafia, which averaged 2.46 million viewers, and Gold Rush - South America, which averaged 2.43 million viewers, and strong beginnings for freshman series Tickle and Porter Ridge, made August 2013 the most watched August in Discovery Channel history. August 2013 was also Discovery's best month of 2013 among Women 18-49 and Women 18-34 delivery.

Discovery's August 2013 double digit increases vs. August 2012 included a whopping +38% increase in Total Viewers P2+, as well as double digit increases in Persons 25-54 (+46%), Men 25-54 (+49%), Women 25-54 (+42%), Persons 18-49 (+44%), Men 18-49 (+45%) and  Men 18-34 (+37%). This sharp increase in Discovery's Prime Time ratings pushed the network to the #1 position in all of cable in Men 18-49 for the month, and in the top five for Men 25-54 (#2), Persons 18-49 (#3), Persons 25-54 (#4) and Persons 18-34 (#5) in August. 

Shark Week 2013 was the most-watched in the event's 26 year history across all key demos including Persons, Men and Women 25-54/18-49/18-34 delivery, no exclusions, from August 4-10. Shark Week's  first-ever late-night talk show, Shark After Dark, out-delivered every late-night cable talk show competitor including Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report, TBS' Conan, Bravo's Watch What Happens Live and E!'s Chelsea Lately in Persons 25-54 and 18-49 delivery. Shark After Dark also beat all of the above late-night cable talk shows among the coveted Persons 18-34 demo (no exclusions) August 4 - 7.  Additionally, during the calendar week from August 5-11, Discovery Channel ranked as the #1 network in  ALL OF TELEVISION among Men 18-49 delivery, no exclusions.

Gold Rush - South America was the #1 series for men across all of television on Fridays, beating all other series and specials on both broadcast and cable television among male viewers Men 18-49 and Men 25-54 delivery, excluding sports. Gold Rush - South America was also the #1 cable program on Fridays among both Persons 25-54 and 18-49 delivery.

* Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Time-Period Data. 

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Discovery: August 2013 vs. August 2012 

Aug 2013 (07/29/13-08/25/13)

Aug 2012 (07/30/12-08/26/12)

PRIME AA%

HH:  38% (1.06 v.0.77)

P 25-54:  51% (0.83 v.0.55)

M 25-54:  57% (1.05 v.0.67)

W 25-54:  44% (0.62 v.0.43)

P 18-49:  47% (0.75 v.0.51)

M 18-49:  50% (0.9 v.0.6)

W 18-49:  43% (0.6 v.0.42)

P 18-34:  33% (0.61 v.0.46)

M 18-34:  42% (0.68 v.0.48)

W 18-34:  25% (0.55 v.0.44)

P 2+:  37% (0.59 v.0.43)

PRIME DELIVERY AA(000)

HH:  37% (1053 v.767)

P 25-54:  46% (844 v.577)

M 25-54:  49% (518 v.348)

W 25-54:  42% (326 v.229)

P 18-49:  44% (805 v.559)

M 18-49:  45% (476 v.329)

W 18-49:  42% (328 v.231)

P 18-34:  32% (348 v.264)

M 18-34:  37% (191 v.139)

W 18-34:  27% (157 v.124)

P 2+:  38% (1487 v.1080)

TOTAL DAY AA%

HH:  17% (0.55 v.0.47)

P 25-54:  27% (0.38 v.0.3)

M 25-54:  33% (0.48 v.0.36)

W 25-54:  17% (0.28 v.0.24)

P 18-49:  21% (0.35 v.0.29)

M 18-49:  24% (0.42 v.0.34)

W 18-49:  17% (0.28 v.0.24)

P 18-34:  11% (0.31 v.0.28)

M 18-34:  13% (0.35 v.0.31)

W 18-34:  4% (0.26 v.0.25)

P 2+:  17% (0.28 v.0.24)

TOTAL DAY DELIVERY AA(000)

HH:  16% (540 v.464)

P 25-54:  23% (383 v.312)

M 25-54:  26% (236 v.188)

W 25-54:  18% (147 v.125)

P 18-49:  19% (378 v.318)

M 18-49:  19% (225 v.189)

W 18-49:  18% (153 v.130)

P 18-34:  9% (175 v.160)

M 18-34:  11% (100 v.90)

W 18-34:  6% (75 v.71)

P 2+:  17% (713 v.608)

2013 Shark Week Premiere Telecast Averages

• During Shark Week 2013, across 11 premiere hours, Shark Week telecasts averaged a 1.77 P25-54 AA% and 3.23 million viewers P2+ delivery (higher than any other year in 26 year history of Shark Week).

2013 Shark Week Prime Average

• The full week itself averaged a 1.74 HH / 1.39 P25-54 AA% / 2.56 million viewers P2+ delivery, during all of primetime (8-11p, Sunday 8/4/13 - Saturday 8/10/13)

2013 Shark Week Cume

• During the calendar week of Shark Week 2013, 28.9 million viewers P2+watched Shark Week 2013 during Prime (Mon-Sun)...when including launch night, 31.8 million viewers P2+ (Sun-Sat) during Primetime.

Source: Nielsen. NPower. DISC. Shark Week. Mon-Sun, 8/5/13-8/11/13. 8p-11p. Sun-Sat, 8/4/13-8/10/13. 8p-11p. Cume. 6min Qual.