GSN’s `Skin Wars’ Paints Record Ratings

GSN’s body painting competition series Skin Wars set a network ratings record in its Wednesday night series premiere, GSN officials said Thursday.

The series, hosted by actress Rebecca Romijin, drew nearly 700,000 total viewers based on overnight ratings, said the network. Skin Wars also delivered highs in women 25-54 (128,000), women 18-49 (124,000), adults 25-54 (240,000) and adults 18-49 (252,000). It was also the most-watched telecast for an original series this year among P18-49, according to the network.

The series, GSN’s first foray into reality competition programming, posted double-digit increases in all major viewership demos compared to the prior for weeks the time period against the Steve Harvey-hosted Family Feud.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.