Peacemakers Makes Ratings Kill

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

The hits kept rolling for cable Wednesday as USA Network’s new original
series, Peacemakers, posted the highest rating for a new scripted series
this season.

The Western-based series, starring Tom Berenger as a 1880s crime-solving
sheriff, averaged a 4.0 rating during its July 31 premiere, besting the 3.2
garnered by FX’s Nip/Tuck just two weeks ago, according to Nielsen Media
Research.

The series now ranks fourth among the top-rated original-series premieres in
history, behind USA’s Dead Zone (4.7 rating) and E! Entertainment
Television’s Anna Nicole Smith Show and FX’s The Shield (tied with
a 4.1).

Add the premiere rating of Monk (3.5) and USA holds three of the five
top original-series premieres in basic cable.

The show drew 5.2 million viewers aged two and over and 3.5 million
homes.

R. Thomas Umstead
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.