Food Network Delivers Best Quarter in History

1st Quarter Finished Highest-Rated and Most-Watched
Ranked #9 Cable Network

NEW YORK – March 26, 2012–Food Network delivers its highest-rated, most-watched quarter ever posting a .6 among adults 25-54 (up 20% from 2011) and was watched nightly by an average of 1.3 million total viewers (645k adults 25-54), making it ranked 9th * among ad-supported cable networks for the quarter, up two spots from 2011.  March also culminated as the 7th consecutive month that Food Network has had “highest-ever” individual, monthly delivery.

Food Network’s Sunday night tentpole programming continues to drive the record-breaking success, beginning with Rachael vs. Guy Celebrity Cook-Off posting a 1.3 adult 25-54 rating for the season, having premiered as the #1 show in its timeslot. Returning series, Worst Cooks in America has averaged a 1.1 adult 25-54 rating over its seven-week run, with the upcoming finale to air Sunday, April 1st at 9pm.

Other standout primetime performers include Restaurant: Impossible which averages a .9 adult 25-54 rating and up 68% over year ago timeslot, Chopped (averaging a 1.0 adults 25-54 rating in its regular timeslot), Cupcake Wars (averaging .7 adults 25-54 rating) and newcomers Restaurant Stakeout, which has averaged a .9 rating adults 25-54 since premiering on March 14th and season two of Sweet Genius which premiered March 15th has averaged a .7 adults 25-54 rating, up 17% from season one.

*at time of release according to Nielsen Media Research