Press Releases & News Briefs

SPROUT® ACHIEVES HIGHEST RATED QUARTER IN NETWORK HISTORY IN Q2 2012 WITH 56% INCREASE

Besting all other kids’ networks in quarterly audience gains among kids 2-11

Philadelphia, PA - June 26, 2012 - 24-hour preschool television channel Sprout achieved its highest rated quarter ever in Q2 2012 with a household coverage area 0.22 rating/120k homes, according to Nielsen.  This marks the fifth consecutive quarter of audience gains for the network and an increase in household delivery from the same quarter last year of 56% (120k vs. 77k).  Sprout had double-digit percentage gains in second quarter year-to-year among its key demographics of kids 2-5 (+68%), kids 2-11 (+72%) and women 18-49 (+22%), while its quarterly household, total persons (+55%) and kids 2-11 audience percentage gains vs. a year ago were higher than any other kids' networks measured, including Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, Disney XD, Nicktoons and The Hub. 

Additionally, June was Sprout's highest rated month ever in total day household ratings (0.23 rating/128k homes), marking its eighth consecutive month of year-over-year double-digit household percentage growth.  Among the more than 90 cable networks metered by Nielsen, Sprout netted the second highest (+54%) year-over-year household percentage gain in June, trailing only ESPN.

"Sprout's ratings were consistently strong across all dayparts in the second quarter," said Sandy Wax, president of Sprout.  "Our Memorial Day and Father's Day holiday marathons featuring audience favorites Caillou and Fireman Sam sparked even more growth." 
According to the recently released Spring 2012 Q-score study, Sprout's awareness among moms of kids 2-5 has reached an all-time Spring high of 73%.  Also, over the past year, Sprout has become available to an additional 4.8M homes (a 10% distribution gain), making it the fastest-growing kids' network on television.    

About Sprout®
Available in over 50 million homes, Sprout is the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for children ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers.  The 24-hour digital channel, which launched in September 2005 along with the website (SproutOnline.com), is the only channel that follows the day of a preschooler from breakfast to bedtime with its distinctive, interactive programming and original hosted blocks.  Sprout's VOD offering is the #1 on demand service for younger children with over one billion views. 

Sprout is a partnership among NBCUniversal, PBS, Sesame Workshop and Apax Funds.  Its program lineup of gold-standard, curriculum-based preschool shows includes:  Sesame Street®, Bob the Builder™, Barney & Friends™, The Wiggles®, Caillou®, Pajanimals™, Thomas & Friends™,  LazyTown™, and more.

www.SproutOnline.com
www.facebook.com/Sprout
www.twitter.com/SproutTV

Sources: Nielsen Media Research, National MIT.  Total Day (M-Su 6a-6a) Live+Same Day playback; AA (000s); 2Q12 (03/26-06/24/12) vs. 2Q11 (03/28-06/26/11); June 2012 (05/28-06/24/12) vs. June 2011 (05/30-06/26/11).  2Q12 and June 12 total day averages do not include 3a-6a on 6/24/2012.  Marketing Evaluations, Inc. Q-score Awareness (Spring 2012 vs. Spring 2011).  Omniture Site Catalyst June 2012.

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CONTACT
Jenni Glenn
Sprout
215-286-2703
jenni_glenn@sproutonline.com