'Rubicon' Debut Sets Ratings Record

By R. Thomas Umstead
( Broadcasting & Cable )
published

AMC's new original drama series Rubicon premiered Sunday as the most watched series debut ever for the network, averaging 2 million viewers.

The two-hour premiere of the series, a modern-day political conspiracy thriller stars James Badge Dale (Pacific)  as an intelligent analyst who stumbles on a mysterious code, topped the July 2007 premiere of Mad Men's which drew 1.8 million viewers and the January 2008 debut episode of Breaking Bad, which averaged 1.5 million watchers, according to Nielsen.

The
first hour of the series ran several times on the network prior to
Sunday's official debut as well as on VOD, iTunes and Hulu. Overall the
preview airings generated 4.6 million views, said the network.

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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.