Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Downton Abbey on MASTERPIECE on PBS Scored the # Rated Slot Against the Super Bowl For 5 Year in a Row

09/02/2016

MASTERPIECE DOWNTON ABBEY, THE FINAL SEASON CAST

Courtesy of Nick Briggs/Carnival

ARLINGTON, VA; February 9, 2014 -- For a fifth year in a row the Emmy -, Golden Globe -and SAG Award -winning series, Downton Abbey, a Carnival Films/MASTERPIECE co-production, was the #2 rated 9pm show to the Super Bowl with a 4.4 overnight rating (Nielsen Overnight Metered Markets). The overnight rating is up from last year's 4.3 rating.

Sunday night's episode averaged 6.6 million viewers based on PBS Research projections based on Overnight Metered Markets.

Even competing with the Super Bowl, this episode generated substantial social media activity. On Sunday, 5,700 people sent 11,600 Tweets about PBS's Downton Abbey, yielding 1.2 million impressions. (Source: Nielsen). The series was also the #2 most social program during primetime (Source: Nielsen, 2/7/16, excluding sports events and sports related programming, ranked on unique authors/tweets).

Viewers can catch up on Downton Abbey by streaming it free on PBS station websites, PBS.org and PBS' apps for iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Android TV, Xbox, Chromecast and FireTV, for a limited time after each national broadcast.

Amazon Prime members can now stream all five past seasons of Downton Abbey. Amazon Prime Instant Video is the exclusive subscription video on demand (SVOD) home for Downton Abbey.

New episodes of Downton Abbey, The Final Season can be purchased the day after their broadcast premieres through iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, VUDU and Google Play. Fans can also purchase Seasons 1-6 of Downton Abbey through sites and services including iTunes, Amazon.com and ShopPBS.org.

Downton Abbey is a Carnival Films/MASTERPIECE Co-Production written and created by Julian Fellowes. The series is Executive Produced by Gareth Neame, Julian Fellowes, Liz Trubridge, and Nigel Marchant. Chris Croucher is the Producer. The Executive Producer for MASTERPIECE is Rebecca Eaton. The Senior Series Producer for MASTERPIECE is Susanne Simpson.

About PBS

PBS, with 350 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches more than 103 million people through television and over 33 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS' broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry's most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS' premier children's TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents' and teachers' most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

About MASTERPIECE

The top-rated primetime show on PBS, MASTERPIECE is celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2016. MASTERPIECE is presented on PBS by WGBH Boston. Rebecca Eaton is Executive Producer. Funding for the series is provided by Viking River Cruises and Audible with additional support from public television viewers and contributors to The MASTERPIECE Trust. MASTERPIECE is known for presenting iconic shows such as Upstairs Downstairs, Prime Suspect, The Forsyte Saga, Poldark, Sherlock and Downton Abbey.

About WGBH

WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcaster and the largest producer of PBS content for TV and the Web, including FRONTLINE, NOVA, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, MASTERPIECE, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, ARTHUR, CURIOUS GEORGE and more than a dozen other primetime, lifestyle, and children's series. WGBH also is a major supplier of programming for public radio, and oversees Public Radio International (PRI). As a leader in educational multimedia for the classroom, WGBH supplies content to PBS LearningMedia, a national broadband service for teachers and students. WGBH also is a pioneer in technologies and services that make media accessible to those with hearing or visual impairments. WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors. More info at www.wgbh.org.

About CARNIVAL FILMS

Carnival Films is a division of NBC Universal International Studios and is the UK's largest drama specialist. The company is responsible for the global TV sensation Downton Abbey, winner of three Golden Globes and 12 Primetime Emmy awards, including Best Mini-series. It is the most-nominated non-US show in the history of the Emmys with a total of 59 nominations and is now in over 250 territories worldwide. Among numerous national and international awards, including three Screen Actors Guild Awards and four National Television Awards, the show has even garnered a Guinness World Record for highest critical ratings for a TV show, and the BAFTA Special Award in recognition of its outstanding global success. Downton Abbey is executive produced by Carnival's managing director Gareth Neame, who sold the production company to NBCUniversal in 2008.

Founded in 1978, Carnival Films has produced many hundreds of hours of popular drama both in the UK and US, including primetime series such as Poirot, Hotel Babylon, Whitechapel, Dracula and The Philanthropist, as well as miniseries such as C4's iconic Traffik, David Nicholl's The 7:39, David Hare's Worricker Trilogy as well as William Boyd's BAFTA-winning Any Human Heart, and Peter Morgan's BAFTA-winning The Lost Honour of Christ
LINK: http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/downton-abbey-on-masterpiece-on-pb...
See more stories from pbs

Most recent headlines

08/12/2025

MediaKind to Acquire Harmonic's Video Business for $145M

DENVER MediaKind, a global provider of cloud-based video streaming technology announced today that it is acquiring the video business of Harmonic Inc. for appro...

08/12/2025

Nielsen Audience Segments Now Available in Amazon Ads Marketplace

NEW YORK Nielsen has announced that its Audience Segments from Nielsen Marketing Cloud (NMC) are now available across the Amazon Ads marketplace, including the ...

08/12/2025

Marshall Electronics Highlights CV355 27X ND3 Camera With...

Marshall Electronics showcases the CV355-27X-ND3 Optical Zoom NDI (NDI HX2, NDI HX3) Camera at ISE 2026 (Booth 4N900). Designed for users seeking high-quality ...

08/12/2025

Cinnafilm Launches Tachyon LIVE and IPx LIVE - Real-Time...

Cinnafilm today announced the immediate availability of IPx LIVE and Tachyon LIVE, delivering broadcast-grade, real-time IP video transcoding and motion-compens...

08/12/2025

Hiltron Sees Expanding Demand for Satcom Systems Througho...

Following a successful 45th anniversary year in 2024, Hiltron reports increasing demand for its wide range of satellite communication equipment manufacturing, p...

08/12/2025

Eurovision legend Niamh Kavanagh revealed as first contestant for Dancing with the Stars 2026

Eurovision winner Niamh Kavanagh is the first celebrity to be revealed for the s...

08/12/2025

The RT Toy Show Appeal raises over 30 million in 6 Years

Changing children's lives for good: A staggering 4.6 million raised in the 2025 appeal The people of Ireland and people all over the world have once again...

08/12/2025

Daddy's dancing: Paudie Moloney revealed as second contestant for Dancing with the Stars 2026

It's murder on the dancefloor as The Traitors Ireland legend Paudie Moloney ...

06/12/2025

L3Harris Chair and CEO Appears on CNBC at Reagan National Defense Forum

In a live broadcast from the Reagan National Defense Forum, L3Harris Chair and CEO Christopher Kubasik joined Morgan Brennan on CNBCs Closing Bell: Overtime. Ku...

06/12/2025

Survey: M&E Embraces Horizontally Integrated Media Archiving Approach

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. A new survey from Pixitmedia by Datacore revealed a major shift in the Media & Entertainment industry in media archiving, with 85% of resp...

06/12/2025

Czech TV Deploys LiveU Solutions in 10 OB Vans

HACKENSACK, N.J. LiveU has announced that the national public broadcaster Czech Television has completed one of the largest LiveU live production deployments fo...

06/12/2025

NATAS Celebrates 76th Technology & Engineering Emmy Award Honorees

NEW YORK The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) presented the Excellence in Production Technology Emmy Award to NASA+ and Dr. Tom Leight...

05/12/2025

2025 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame: Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nationally and Regionally

2025 Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame: Curt Gowdy Jr. - Master Storyteller, Nati...

05/12/2025

SVG Sit-Down: Veritone's Sean King on the Power of Mining Video, Audio Data

SVG Sit-Down: Veritone's Sean King on the Power of Mining Video, Audio DataThe company's Data Refinery offers users total control and governance over da...

05/12/2025

Platinum White Paper: Inside the Nashville Predators' Unified, Flexible, Scalable Production System with Ross Video

Platinum White Paper: Inside the Nashville Predators' Unified, Flexible, Sca...

05/12/2025

Netflix Reaches Agreement To Acquire Warner Bros. Following Planned WBD Split

Netflix Reaches Agreement To Acquire Warner Bros. Following Planned WBD SplitThe deal does not include WBDs sports assets like TNT Sports (US, UK, LatAm), Euros...

05/12/2025

FOX Sports Returns to Indianapolis for Primetime Broadcast of Big Ten Championship

FOX Sports Returns to Indianapolis for Primetime Broadcast of Big Ten Championsh...

05/12/2025

SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Digital Engagement & Monetization Workshop Tackles the Future of the Viewer Experience

SVG Summit 2025 Preview: Digital Engagement & Monetization Workshop Tackles the ...

05/12/2025

Atlanta United Lights Up New Emory Healthcare Studio With First Live Broadcast for World Cup Draw

Atlanta United Lights Up New Emory Healthcare Studio With First Live Broadcast f...

05/12/2025

As Messi Takes the Pitch, MLS, Apple, NEP Roll Out Largest MLS Cup Production Ever

As Messi Takes the Pitch, MLS, Apple, NEP Roll Out Largest MLS Cup Production Ev...

05/12/2025

ESPN Enters College Football's Most Intense Month With Elevated Workflows for Championship Week

ESPN Enters College Football's Most Intense Month With Elevated Workflows fo...

05/12/2025

Sorry, Baby, Peter Hujar's Day, Among Sundance Institute-Supported Projects Nominated for 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards

It's about that time! Awards season is in full swing, and the Film Independe...

05/12/2025

Surprised by Your 2025 Wrapped? Here's a Look at How the Data Comes to Life

Every year, Spotify Wrapped offers a personalized look back at the audio that defined your year. It's a snapshot of your listening habits, designed to tell ...

05/12/2025

Celebrating Spotify's GLOW, RADAR, and EQUAL Artists of 2025

In 2025, Spotify's EQUAL, GLOW, and RADAR programs celebrated women, LGBTQIA , and emerging artists who turned moments into milestones. From breaking record...

05/12/2025

Wi-Fi 7 - Go Beyond Speed to Deliver Security, Trust and Value

In our latest blog, we explain how Wi-Fi 7 rollouts can drive consumer loyalty with value-add services such as consumer cybersecurity. We also explore how this ...

05/12/2025

Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. in Deal Worth $82.7 Billon

LOS ANGELES Netflix announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....

05/12/2025

Gracenote Launches New CTV Ad Platform

NEW YORK Nielsens Gracenote has launched Gracenote Content Connect, a new ad platform that provides agencies, brands, supply-side platforms (SSPs) and demand-si...

05/12/2025

IAB Tech Lab Releases Deals API

NEW YORK In an most important update to the workings of deal-based programmatic advertising, IAB Tech Lab has released version 1.0 of its Deals API for public c...

05/12/2025

Nielsen: NFL Thanksgiving Games Score Big Audiences

NEW YORK Pass the turkey. Pass the stuffing. Pass the cranberry sauce. All are common requests of Americans celebrating Thanksgiving Day with family and f...

05/12/2025

Iris Cloud-Connected Camera Control Platform Now Available

NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...

05/12/2025

Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. in Deal Worth $82.7B

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. Netflix announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the assets of Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion....

05/12/2025

Iris Cloud-Connected Camera Control Platform Is Now Available

NEW YORK Iris, the new cloud-connected camera control platform, has officially launched with features that turn virtually any PTZ camera into a software-connect...

05/12/2025

FCC Approves AT&T's $1 Billion Acquisition of UScellular Spectrum

WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has approved AT&T's $1.02 billion acquisition of spectrum from UScellular in a decision that was issued sho...

05/12/2025

The Best Coldplay Songs: 21 Tracks That Shoot for the Stars

The Best Coldplay Songs: 21 Tracks That Shoot for the Stars From Yellow to Viva La Vida, Fix You to Paradise, this playlist goes back to the start. December ...

05/12/2025

Zafris Lecture Series Brings Nabil Ayers to Berklee

Zafris Lecture Series Brings Nabil Ayers to Berklee The 32nd annual James G. Zafris Distinguished Lecture series was held on Thursday, November 13, with guest...

05/12/2025

Netflix Unveils the First Look for Land of Sin' - Premiering on January 2, 2026

Back to All News Netflix Unveils the First Look for Land of Sin' - Premier...

05/12/2025

Introducing New Perks to Help You Get Even More from...

Introducing New Perks to Help You Get Even More from LinkedIn Premium Published on Dec 5, 2025 Categories: Company News, Product News LinkedIn Corporate Co...

05/12/2025

A new Game of Thrones Tale: Official trailer for Sky Exclusive series A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms lands today

Friday 5 December 2025 A new Game of Thrones Tale: Official trailer for Sky Exc...

05/12/2025

Don Lee, Lee Jin-uk, and Lalisa Manobal to Star in Netflix Action Thriller 'TYGO'

Back to All News Don Lee, Lee Jin-uk, and Lalisa Manobal to Star in Netflix Act...

05/12/2025

Give Back Fridays with a twist is back for 2025!

Tis the season of giving once again and this year we've taken our Give Back Fridays' concept and turned it on its head. In the autumn we were approach...

05/12/2025

2025-11-06

Brayden Gogis doesn't remember a time when he wasn't completely fixated on games in all forms. In preschool, when they asked us to dress up as what we ...

05/12/2025

The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025

The Grinch steals the spotlight as the theme for The Late Late Toy Show 2025 Tune in tonight at 9:35pm on RT One and worldwide on RT Player #LateLateToyShow...

05/12/2025

RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes

RT Announces New Presenters of Flagship News Programmes New RT Six One News co-presenter Tommy Meskill Sarah McInerney & Justin McCarthy join Morning Ir...

04/12/2025

ToolsOnAir Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux

ToolsOnAir Blackmagic Design HyperDeck Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & ...

04/12/2025

ToolsOnAir AJA Ki Pro Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux

ToolsOnAir AJA Ki Pro Event Presets for just:in mac pro 2025 & just:in linux More Details:Starting with version 5.5, both just:in mac pro and just:in linux sol...

04/12/2025

Young Journalist finalists looking to the future

Wangu Kanuri from Kenya and Godwin Asediba from Ghana are two of this years finalists for Thomsons Young Journalist of the Year Award. The pair are runners-up i...

04/12/2025

SVG Sit-Down: ProximaVision's Claudio Lisman on Why Tethered Drones Could Be a Game-Changer for Live Sports Production

SVG Sit-Down: ProximaVision's Claudio Lisman on Why Tethered Drones Could Be...

04/12/2025

SVG Campus Shot Callers: Imry Halevi, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Content & Strategic Communications, Harvard University

SVG Campus Shot Callers: Imry Halevi, Senior Associate Director of Athletics, Co...