DELIVERS BEST YEAR SINCE 2001 IN PRIMETIME
Expands 2015 Programming Slate: Greenlights Season Three of 'The Profit' and Two New Docu-Series; and Adds New Projects in Development
PASADENA, CA & ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ — January 15, 2015 — CNBC is the year's fastest-growing cable network among adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 in primetime. Year over year, the network grew +48% among adults 25-54 and +70% among adults 18-49. The network also delivered its highest primetime ratings since 2001 among adults 25-54. Across all telecasts, CNBC's original reality programming drew 32% more adults 25-54 than in 2013.
CNBC broke a number of network records in 2014, a year that included the most-watched program, most-watched original season and most-watched series premiere in network history. CNBC's exclusive off-network cable run of "Shark Tank" has drawn more viewers 25-54 than any program on CNBC to date. CNBC's popular original series "The Profit" is the network's most-watched original series ever. Season two of "The Profit" was CNBC's most-watched original season to date among adults 25-54 and adults 18-49, and the November 11th episode was CNBC's most-watched original series telecast to date. Last but not least, the launch of "The Filthy Rich Guide" averaged more adults 25-54 than any series premiere in network history.
CNBC announced today THE PROFIT, one of CNBC's biggest primetime success stories featuring serial entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis who saves struggling businesses while investing his own cash in the process, will return for a third season in the Spring. "The Profit" is produced for CNBC by Machete Productions with Amber Mazzola serving as executive producer.
CNBC also today announced it has greenlit two new series to premiere in 2015: BLUE COLLAR MILLIONAIRES and RESTAURANT CONFIDENTIAL: NEW YORK (working title). These projects join an already robust 2015 line-up including a new primetime series hosted by late-night legend Jay Leno, also set to debut in the Spring.
The network also revealed new projects in the development pipeline: MAKE ME A MILLIONAIRE INVENTOR, THE WEST TEXAS INVESTORS CLUB (working title), and BACK IN THE GAME (working title).
"CNBC in primetime had a tremendous 2014 and we are excited to build on that momentum with the return of a fan favorite and a powerful slate of new originals," said Jim Ackerman, Senior Vice President of Primetime Alternative, CNBC. "These projects speak directly to CNBC's distinct brand filter and are evidence of the continued investment in primetime."
Greenlit Series:
BLUE COLLAR MILLIONAIRES
Produced by 495 Productions with Founder & President SallyAnn Salsano serving as executive producer, along with Joel Zimmer of 495 Productions.
BLUE COLLAR MILLIONAIRES is a docu-series that profiles big personalities who've gotten rich by getting their hands dirty. These men and women have made millions rolling up their sleeves… but at the end of the work day, they drive home to their palatial mansions and park their pick-up next to their collection of high-end sports cars. No doubt about it – these are not your typical millionaires. Learn how guts, grit, and a can-do mindset made them rich beyond their wildest dreams…and find out how they spend their hard-earned millions when they're off the clock and having fun.
RESTAURANT CONFIDENTIAL: NEW YORK (working title)
Produced by All3Media America with Eli Holzman, Stephen Lambert, Aaron Saidman and Domini Hoffman as executive producers.
There's nothing more glamorous than running a restaurant – but there's also nothing more difficult. RESTAURANT CONFIDENTIAL: NEW YORK (working title) is a docu-series that takes you behind the scenes of three very different restaurants in the ultra-competitive New York food scene, chronicling their every struggle and occasional triumph. The series follows the money as hot and not-so-hot spots compete to survive and thrive, and chefs, restaurateurs, investors, and everyone in between work tirelessly to make a place for themselves in the culinary landscape.
New Projects in Development:
MAKE ME A MILLIONAIRE INVENTOR
Produced by All3Media/Objective Productions with Stephen Lambert, Eli Holzman, Jimmy Fox and Nick Parnes as executive producers.
MAKE ME A MILLIONAIRE INVENTOR is on a mission to find the best inventions NEVER made and give them new life. A team of top mechanical engineers will scour the patent archives looking for amazing ideas they're convinced can make big money. They'll track down the inventors and give them a second chance to bring their ideas and dreams to life. With the team's help, the inventors will take their products from concept to reality, building, testing, and perfecting their products for the biggest pitch of their lives.
THE WEST TEXAS INVESTORS CLUB (working title)
Produced by The Ebersol Lanigan Company with Charlie Ebersol, Mike Lanigan and Jason Henry as executive producers.
THE WEST TEXAS INVESTORS CLUB (working title) goes deep in the heart of Texas, removed from Main Street America, to meet the renegades who carved a fortune from a harsh and unforgiving land. While the rest of America chases spreadsheets and trends, these self-made men have broken with tradition to develop their own unique investment strategy. For decades they've chosen to pass along their success – and satisfy their own personal sense of adventure – by investing in others through their VC fund, The West Texas Investors Club. The fund's philosophy is simple: they invest in the person first, and the idea second. Their unorthodox approach to sourcing investment opportunities puts unsuspecting entrepreneurs, hailing from across the country, to the ultimate test.
BACK IN THE GAME (working title)
Produced by SMAC Entertainment and Machete Productions with Michael Strahan, Constance Schwartz and Amber Mazzola as executive producers.
It's a story we hear all too often. A free-spending pro athlete heads into retirement, only to find himself in financial free-fall… dead broke after buying one Maserati too many. With no more games to play or seven-figure paychecks to cash, the future looks bleak. It doesn't have to be that way. From executive producer Michael Strahan, BACK IN THE GAME (working title) pairs struggling ex-athletes with money-savvy mentors who can help them get back on their feet. Whether the game plan involves launching a new career, starting a new business, or just finding a way out of crushing debt, the mentors are ready to guide these former superstars to their next great play. But after years of living in luxury and indulging every appetite, will they be willing to listen to their new coach? And can they learn to stop behaving like a star and start living like the rest of us?
About CNBC:
With CNBC in the U.S., CNBC in Asia Pacific, CNBC in Europe, Middle East and Africa, CNBC World and CNBC HD , CNBC is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real-time financial market coverage and business information to approximately 371 million homes worldwide, including more than 100 million households in the United States and Canada. CNBC also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China. The network's 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America (weekdays from 4:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. ET) is produced at CNBC's global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., and includes reports from CNBC News bureaus worldwide. CNBC at night features a mix of new reality programming, CNBC's highly successful series produced exclusively for CNBC and a number of distinctive in-house documentaries.
CNBC also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real-time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms. These include CNBC.com, the online destination for global business; CNBC PRO, the premium, integrated desktop/mobile service that provides real-time global market data and live access to CNBC global programming; and a suite of CNBC Mobile products including the CNBC Real-Time iPhone and iPad Apps.
Members of the media can receive more information about CNBC and its programming on the NBC Universal Media Village Web site at http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/networks/cnbc/.
Source: Nielsen. Live+SD Average Audience. Qualifications available upon request.