AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW PREMIERE SETS RECORD AS THE MOST-WATCHED TELECAST IN FX HISTORY
AHS GETS REWARDED WITH A 13-EPISODE ORDER FOR A FIFTH INSTALLMENT OF THE AWARD-WINNING ANTHOLOGY MINISERIES
AHS: FREAK SHOW DEBUT DELIVERS 10 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS,
6.54 MILLION ADULTS 18-49 AND 4.08 MILLION ADULTS 18-34
PREMIERE & ENCORE RUNS DELIVER 13.36 MILLION TOTAL VIEWERS,
8.6 MILLION ADULTS 18-49 AND 5.25 MILLION ADULTS 18-34
AHS: FREAK SHOW AIRS WEDNESDAYS AT 10 PM THROUGH JANUARY 2015
LOS ANGELES, OCTOBER 13, 2014 – Producer Ryan Murphy’s Emmy® and Golden Globe® award winning anthology miniseries American Horror Story has paid big dividends as his newest installment, American Horror Story: Freak Show has broken all ratings records for FX with its premiere episode last Wednesday night (10/8/14, 10-11:32PM). In light of that record-setting performance, FX has rewarded American Horror Story with a 13-episode order for the fifth and next installment of the show, which will debut in October 2015, it was announced today by John Landgraf, CEO, FX Networks and FX Productions.
With Live+3 time-shifted viewing, the premiere telecast of American Horror Story: Freak Show has become the most-watched single program in FX’s 20-year history and that includes all programs with Live+7 deliveries. AHS: Freak Show’s debut delivered 10 million Total Viewers, 6.54 million Adults 18-49, and 4.08 million Adults 18-34, surpassing the network’s previous record holder, the recent seventh and final season premiere telecast of the hit drama series Sons of Anarchy on Sept. 9th (9.25 million Total Viewers and 6.1 million Adults 18-49). American Horror Story: Coven held all previous records in delivery Adults 18-34.
The premiere and two encore telecasts of American Horror Story: Freak Show combined to deliver 13.36 million Total Viewers, 8.6 million Adults 18-49 and 5.25 million Adults 18-34.
“The American Horror Story anthology has had the highest growth trajectory of any show in FX history, not to mention an unprecedented track record of success in awards recognition,” said Landgraf. “With Ryan Murphy and his partners, Brad Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto and Tim Minear at the helm, the show’s success is not surprising. AHS continues to deliver amazing stories, a brilliant troupe of actors led by Jessica Lange, and a visual style unlike any other on TV. WithNip/Tuck, Glee, The Normal Heart, and American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy has established himself as one of the most successful and prolific producers of this generation. We expect AHS: Freak Show and the next incarnation of AHSto further his legacy.”
The premiere ratings for American Horror Story: Freak Show topped the premiere episode of last year’s third installment of the franchise, American Horror Story: Coven, by +38% in Total Viewers (10 million vs. 7.27 million), +29% in Adults 18-49 (6.54 million vs. 5.07 million), and +40% in Adults 18-34 (4.08 million vs. 2.92 million).
The premiere ratings for American Horror Story: Freak Show topped the 13-episode average of American Horror Story: Coven, by +53% in Total Viewers (10 million vs. 6.53 million), +44% in Adults 18-49 (6.54 million vs. 4.55 million), and +61% in Adults 18-34 (4.08 million vs. 2.53 million).
Since its launch in 2011, compared with the average of its full first installment, American Horror Story: Murder House, the franchise has grown +148% in Total Viewers (4.03 million), +119% in Adults 18-49 (2.98 million) and +127% in Adults 18-34 (1.79 million).
AHS: Freak Show has 12 all-new episodes airing Wednesdays at 10 PM ET/PT through January. In Wednesday night’s episode, “Massacres and Matinees” (Oct. 15), a citywide curfew threatens to shut down the Freak Show. Dell Toledo (Michael Chiklis), a strongman from Ethel’s (Kathy Bates) troubled past arrives at camp. Gloria (Frances Conroy) arranges a terrifying play date for Dandy (Finn Wittrock). The Tattler Twins (Sarah Paulson) reveal a talent that could knock Elsa (Jessica Lange) from the spotlight. (Written by Tim Minear; Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon)
American Horror Story: Freak Show begins its tale in the quiet, sleepy hamlet of Jupiter, Fla. The year is 1952. A troupe of curiosities has just arrived to town, coinciding with the strange emergence of a dark entity that savagely threatens the lives of townsfolk and freaks alike. This is the story of the performers and their desperate journey of survival amidst the dying world of the American carny experience. Freak Show features an extraordinary cast including Oscar®, Emmy, and Golden Globe award-winners Jessica Lange and Kathy Bates, Golden Globe Award winner and Academy Award nominee Angela Bassett, Emmy Award nominee Sarah Paulson, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Michael Chiklis, Oscar and Golden Globe award nominee Gabourey Sidibe, Emmy Award nominee and Golden Globe Award winner Frances Conroy, Emmy Award nominee Denis O’Hare, Emmy Award nominee Patti LaBelle, Evan Peters, Emma Roberts, Finn Wittrock, John Carroll Lynch, and Wes Bentley.
Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Dante Di Loreto, Tim Minear, Jennifer Salt, James Wong and Brad Buecker are Executive Producers of American Horror Story: Freak Show. It is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television.
Last week, FX announced the spin-off anthology miniseries of American Horror Story, American Crime Storybeginning with the 10-episode American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson, which starts production in 2015.
ABOUT FX
FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable channel of FX Networks, a business unit of Fox Networks Group. FX Networks is comprised of FX, FXM and FXX, its newest channel, which debuted on September 2, 2013. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 95 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, The Bridge, Tyrant and The Strain; the miniseries American Horror Story; the critically-acclaimed limited series Fargo; acclaimed comedy series including the award-winning Louie, Archer,Married, and upcoming comedy series The Comedians and Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll. 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, How I Met Your Mother, Anger Management, and Mike & Molly.
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