'Longmire' Debut Sets A&E Ratings Record

By R. Thomas Umstead
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

Sunday's premiere of A&E's new drama series Longmire pulled in a network record 4.1 million viewers, A&E officials announced Monday.

The western-themed series, which stars Robert Taylor as unflappable Absaroka County, Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire, is cable's top new scripted drama of 2012 among total viewers as well as adults 25-54 (1.4 million viewers), said the network.

Longmire drew more viewers for A&E than the July 2010 premiere of The Glades, which averaged 3.6 million viewers in its debut.

Sunday's season three premiere of The Glades drew 3.1 million total viewers, up 19% compared to its season two average. The series also averaged 1.4 million adults 25-54 (up 27%) and 1.1 million adults 18-49 (up 17%) compared to the previous season, according to network officials.

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.