History’s ‘Hatfields & McCoys’ Breaks More Cable Records

COMMENTS (17)

• Quality counts. Note from previous discussion about “Harry’s Law” and
  Jesse Stone cancellations: more than half the H&M total viewers were 50+. Wake up networks!

  Comment by EK — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 11:55am PDT  Reply to this post

  • The reason that History is salivating over these numbers is that due to their sheer size, they’ve captured a large 18-49 and 25-54 audience.

    Also, it’s basic cable, where subscription revenue counts. On broadcast, it’s 100% advertising based and if advertisers don’t want 49+, then there’s no sense counting it.

    Comment by scifi_fan — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 12:44pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • Wake up? From what? The networks’ median ages are all over 50, meaning that more than half of their audiences are over 50 too. The problem with the two properties you referenced was that they failed attract younger viewers along with the older viewers. H&M’s A1849 rating is going to be about a 3.7 or a 3.8. The A1849 for Harry’s Law is less than half of that, including DVR playback.

    Comment by Anonymous — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 1:10pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Way to go Kevin Costner, its been along time coming! Well deserved………

  Comment by filmbuzz88 — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 11:56am PDT  Reply to this post

• I watched even though I never heard of the feud. Imagine what they could do with a story/subject more people were familiar with.

  Also, I read someone mention Costner was promoting it all week. What shows was he or Bill Paxton on. I’d love to catch some of those interviews to see how they described the series and their expectations.

  Comment by K — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 12:04pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • They need to do a series about the Civil War. Doesn’t even matter where or what. It would do heart-attack numbers. I could also see a Western of some sort working, perhaps something that takes an unfamiliar and novel approach. H&C had a feeling of being Civil War and Western at the same time.

    However, jury’s still out for historical periods like their Vikings series, and don’t they have a pirates series planned? I wonder how well they would do. 19th C American history has a big fanbase out there, but all history is not created equal.

    Comment by scifi_fan — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 12:47pm PDT  Reply to this post

  • Yeah, I didn’t know anything about the feud, so it was informative and entertaining. I hope the great ratings signals that people will watch quality informative scripted series.

    I am definitely feeling more positive about the upcoming Vikings series.

    Comment by Sareeta — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 3:13pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Absolutely brilliant. Incredibly strong cast, but Jenna Malone was stunning. It will be wonderful to watch her career blossom even further.

  Comment by Moonshine Mug — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 12:22pm PDT  Reply to this post

• ,,,WOW,,,

  Comment by Molly — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 12:23pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Well done series. Quality both behind and in front of the camera. History is probably wishing they made it a little longer and spread over a longer schedule. But well done by everybody.

  Comment by scar — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 12:35pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Matt Barr (who played Johnse Hatfield) was also doing a lot of media interviews. He’s been on TV a lot, but this may have been a sort of breakout role for him as well. K, check the usual entertainment media there’s plenty of the promotion interviews on them.
  This really was a well conceived and well executed project. This is one of those stories where the facts didn’t need to be embellished in telling the story; (I’ve been using google to look for material that gave the historical background, and I did not find one error by the production. That’s remarkable for television or film.

  Comment by theschnauzers — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 12:40pm PDT  Reply to this post

• How is that even possible? it’s part of the American lexicon. That really surprises me. Not judging at all just really surprised by that.

  Comment by Not familiar? — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 12:40pm PDT  Reply to this post

• It got 4.9m 18 – 49, that’s huge for Cable.

  Comment by Roy — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 12:43pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Now History Channel, let’s let Kevin Costner & Tom Selleck do more….WESTERNS….We WILL Watch!…..and you can use this slogan.

  Comment by Jeffry Martini — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 1:18pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Try ” Into the west”(mini series-2005), “dances with wolves” or “tombstone!”

  Comment by shareen lasher — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 2:45pm PDT  Reply to this post

• Bad*ss for sure. Cast was amazing. Bill and Kevin were born for westerns. I’m surprised by the number of people I’ve heard who are unfamiliar with the story….guess that’s what History channels are for

  Comment by tryst — Thursday May 31, 2012 @ 7:19pm PDT  Reply to this post

• it was great and im in that 18-49 demo. however, i dont think network executives should rush to green-light any western shows. what made H&C a huge hit was its grittiness and realism, violence, language, just as the west was supposed to have been. people will tune in to watch stuff like that, not Wanted Dead or Alive or Gunsmoke (even tho those shows were also good in their day). The show gotta have an edge to it, kinda like A Fistful of Dollars – i aint gonna watch High Chaparral or Bonanza

  Comment by agca hadvatydc — Friday June 1, 2012 @ 6:35pm PDT  Reply to this post