Cable Networks Score with Summer Dramas

NEW YORK: TNT drew a whopping 7.6 million viewers to its Monday night premiere of Rizzoli & Isles, the latest in a string of ratings successes for the cable networks this summer.

Monday night’s premiere of the Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander crime drama is cable’s number one ad-supported series launch of all time, with 7.6 million viewers. It followed the sixth-season premiere of The Closer, which delivered 7.7 million viewers, up 7 percent over its fifth-season premiere. "The tremendous viewer response to Rizzoli & Isles is very gratifying," said Michael Wright, executive VP and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies (TCM). "Rizzoli & Isles is shaping up to be a great companion for The Closer, which continues to deliver extraordinary numbers in its sixth season on our network."

At A&E, meanwhile, the Sunday debut of Fox Television Studios’ The Glades has become the network’s most-watched original drama broadcast in its history, delivering 3.6 million viewers. "We are very encouraged by the response that The Glades has received from the press and our viewers," said Bob DeBitetto, president and general manager of A&E and BIO Channel. "The fact that the series was able to break through in a crowded summer landscape against heavy competition is a testament to the quality of the show and the incredible talent and performance of the show’s lead Matt Passmore."

For Syfy, last Friday’s combination of the return of Eureka and the premiere of the E1 series Haven delivered 2.5 million viewers and 2.3 million viewers, respectively.

USA Network last night launched the second season of While Collar and the new show Covert Affairs. And AMC is set to debut the new season of Mad Men on July 25.