Smallscreen News

'Sons of Anarchy' season premiere delivers the ratings to FX

By April MacIntyre Sep 10, 2009, 4:23 GMT

08/23/2009 - Kurt Sutter, Katey Sagal and Charlie Hunnam - FX\'s "Sons Of Anarchy" Season 2 Premiere Screening - Arrivals - Paramount Theater - Los Angeles, CA. USA © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

Kurt Sutter's tale of brothers on bikes and a mother who knows best cleaned up for FX network, delivering over 4 million viewers.

"Sons of Anarchy" returned to the smallscreen Tuesday night, as the second season premiere episode of FX’s critically acclaimed hit drama series stormed out of the gate with all-time series’ high ratings across the board.  

According to Nielsen Media, the season two premiere scored 4.29 million total viewers and 3.03 million Adults 18-49.  Its delivery of 1.97 million Men 18-49 is the most ever for a single telecast of an FX series, and it was also the most of any basic cable series in 2009.

For the number crunchers:

This marks a +95% increase in Adults 18-49 against the season one premiere episode (3.03 million vs. 1.55 million, 9/2/08), the largest increase of any FX original series from a first to a second season. Nip/Tuck posted a +33% in its second season.

Based on Live+Same Day comparison, last night’s premiere registered +94% increases among total viewers over the season one average (2.21 million).  Based on Live+Same Day comparison, last night’s premiere registered +107% increases among Adults 18-49 over the season one average (1.46 million).  

On a time-shifted viewing comparison (Live+Seven ratings vs. Live+Same Day) ratings, in season one Sons gained an average of 18% in Total Viewers (2.61 million vs. 2.21 million), and gained an average of 20% among Adults 18-49 (1.75 million vs. 1.46).