Lifetime’s ‘Whitney’ Draws 4.5 Million Viewers

Lifetime viewers couldn’t get enough of iconic performer Whitney Houston Saturday night. 

The female-targeted network’s original movie Whitney drew 4.5 million viewers, part of a prime-time block of Whitney Houston-themed programming that garnered a combined 11.8 million viewers.

The original movie, directed by Angela Bassett and starring Yaya DaCosta, was the network’s most-watched telecast across all key demographics since Flowers In The Attic last January, said the network. The movie, which chronicled the relationship betewen the late Houston and singer/writer Bobby Brown, also averaged 2.2 million Adults 25-54, 2.1 million Adults 18-49, 1.6 million Women 18-49 and 1.6 million Women 25-54.

Following the movie, the network’s Bobby Brown: Remembering Whitney special delivered 4.1 million viewers, as well as 1.9 million Adults 25-54, 1.8 million Adults 18-49, 1.4 million Women 18-49 and 1.4 million Women 25-54, according to the network.

At 11:00pm, the special Whitney Houston Live: Her Greatest Performances brought in an additional 3.2 million total viewers, said Lifetime.

Tonight Lifetime will encore the entire Whitney Houston-themed block beginning at 8 p.m. with the movie Whitney.

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.