TNT’s The Closer Breaks Cable Records

ATLANTA, June 20: The
premiere of the third season of The Closer on TNT this week has become ad-supported cable’s top series telecast
of all time, delivering 8.8 million viewers and 6.3 million homes.

Meanwhile, Heartland, TNT’s new drama starring Treat Williams and Kari
Matchett, was watched by 4.3 million viewers and ranks as ad-supported cable’s
number two new original series for the year to date among persons 2+ and
households.

“With the third-season
premiere of The Closer shattering
another record and a strong debut performance from our new series Heartland, TNT continues to raise the bar when it comes to
original programming,” said Steve Koonin, the president of Turner Entertainment
Networks. “With Saving Grace
and The Company still to come,
this is shaping up to be a truly spectacular summer for TNT.”

In addition to scoring an
all-time series telecast record, The Closer’s season three premiere episode also ranks as
ad-supported cable’s number one telecast for the year to date among adults
25-54, persons 2+ and households. It beat all broadcast programming in its time
period among households and viewers. The show stars Kyra Sedgwick, who took
home this year’s Golden Globe for best actress in a drama series for her
performance as Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a former Atlanta
detective brought to Los Angeles to head a special LAPD unit charged with
cracking sensitive, high-profile murder cases.