‘Yellowstone’ Premiere on Paramount Draws 4.8 Million Viewers

Paramount Network drew 4.8 million total viewers to the premiere of Yellowstone (live+3 days), starring Kevin Costner. It debuted June 20. Paramount said it is ad-supported cable’s most watched scripted drama series premiere since FX’s The People vs. O.J. Simpson in 2016.

The Yellowstone debut delivered a 1.1 rating in viewers 18-49 and a 1.7 in 25-54.

Paramount Network launched Jan. 18, taking the place of Spike TV. Kevin Kay is president.

Related: Nat Geo Helps Paramount Promote ‘Yellowstone’ Series

The network is part of Viacom. Other series on Paramount include Waco and American Woman.

Yellowstone is written and directed by Taylor Sheridan. Besides Costner, the cast includes Wes Bentley, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Dave Anabelle and Cole Hauser.

Yellowstone chronicles the Dutton family, led by John Dutton (Costner), who controls the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the United States.

Sheridan and Costner executive produce, along with John Linson, Art Linson and David C. Glasser. Ted Gold and Lauren Ruggiero are the executives in charge of production for Paramount Network.

Michael Malone

Michael Malone, senior content producer at B+C/Multichannel News, covers network programming, including entertainment, news and sports on broadcast, cable and streaming; and local broadcast television. He hosts the podcasts Busted Pilot, about what’s new in television, and Series Business, a chat with the creator of a new program, and writes the column “The Watchman.” He joined B+C in 2005. His journalism has also appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Playboy and New York magazine.