A&E got a killer debut performance out of new scripted series “The Glades,” which opened to record ratings for the cable network.
Sunday’s premiere averaged 3.6 million viewers (5.1 million with the encore included), topping the mid-2 million viewer debuts for previous scripted entries “The Cleaner” and “The Beast” and setting the record as A&E’s most-watched drama series telecast.
“We are very encouraged by the response that ‘The Glades’ has received from the press and our viewers,” said Bob DeBitetto, President & General Manager of A&E and BIO Channel. “The fact that the series was able to break through in a crowded summer landscape against heavy competition is a testament to the quality of the show and the incredible talent and performance of the show’s lead Matt Passmore.”
Among the network’s key demographic of 25-54, “Glades” scored 1.4 million viewers; its audience in the universally-coveted 18-49 demographic was 1.2 million.