-Final Episode Averaged 8.2 Million Viewers-
ARLINGTON, VA; February 19, 2013 -- PBS and WGBH announced today that the conclusion of the breakout hit “Downton Abbey, Season 3” on MASTERPIECE CLASSIC captivated an average audience of 8.2 million viewers (Nielsen Fast National data, 5.2 household rating). The Season 3 finale’s average audience was 50 percent above the Season 2 finale (5.4 million viewers, 3.5 household Fast National rating) from February 2012.
“Downton Abbey, Season 3,” a Carnival/MASTERPIECE co-production, consistently drew an audience more than quadruple the PBS primetime average. It exceeded the average rating of the second season of “Downton Abbey” by 66 percent (based on metered market averages).
According to SocialGuide, there were nearly 80,000 "Downton Abbey"-related tweets sent out on Feb. 17, making it the 2nd most tweeted-about series (broadcast or cable) on television that night.
Final, Live+7 ratings for the season finale will be available in approximately three weeks.
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Contacts: Jennifer Rankin Byrne, PBS, 703-739-5487, jrbyrne@pbs.org Ellen Dockser, WGBH/MASTERPIECE, 617-300-5338, ellen_dockser@wgbh.org
