DISCOVERY’S SHARK WEEK MAKES HISTORY WITH ALL SEVEN NIGHTS OUTPERFORMING THE PREVIOUS YEAR; NETWORK RANKS #1 IN CABLE AND #2 IN PRIMETIME ACROSS ALL OF TV THROUGH THE WEEK OF JULY 23-29
Becomes Highest Rated Programming Event for the Network in Three Years
NEW YORK (August 3, 2023) – Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” returned for a landmark 35th year on Sunday, July 23, with a record-breaking week of programming hosted by Jason Momoa. For the first time in its history, all seven nights outperformed the previous year. As the highest-rated Shark Week in three years, the primetime telecasts averaged a 0.76 L3 rating with Adults 25-54, up 15% from last year, securing the second consecutive year of viewership growth and the largest year-over-year increase in ten years. Shark Week content reached more than 22 million total viewers across Discovery Channel, discovery+ and Max.
Throughout the week, Discovery ranked as the #1 primetime cable network with Adults, Men and Women 25-54 and Adults, Men and Women 18-49 and the #2 primetime network across all of television with Men 25-54 and Men 18-49.
“Shark Week once again proves to be summer’s most anticipated programming event. After Sunday’s strong ratings performance where all three premieres averaged over a one, we continued to win the week by telling powerful stories that captured attention and resonated with viewers – Belly of the Beast: Feeding Frenzy, Jaws vs. the Meg, and Cocaine Sharks stood out to as key wins,” said Howard Lee, President of Discovery Networks and TLC. "With the strength of the Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio behind us and our host, Jason Momoa, we kept our momentum going each night and attracted a big audience.”
Warner Bros. Discovery’s linear and streaming portfolio - including TBS, TNT, truTV, TLC, Food Network, HGTV, CNN, Travel Channel, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Animal Planet, Science Channel, ID, TCM - also aired Shark Week-inspired content or cross-promoted the event. As part of the cross-promotion, an exclusive sneak peek of Meg 2: The Trench, the next big theatrical release from Warner Bros. Discovery, aired during Sunday’s premiere of Jaws vs. the Meg.
About Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is dedicated to creating the highest quality non-fiction content that informs and entertains its consumers about the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. The network, which is distributed to 88.3 million U.S. homes, can be seen in 224 countries and territories, offering a signature mix of compelling, high-end production values and vivid cinematography across genres including, science and technology, exploration, adventure, history and in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the people, places and organizations that shape and share our world. For more information, please visit www.discovery.com.
About Warner Bros. Discovery
Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, Max, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Film Group, Warner Bros. Television Group, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others. For more information, please visit www.wbd.com.