Corporate Press Release Theater: The Clone Wars, A Hit It Is

Turning away the disdain of TV critics like so much Sith lightning, The Clone Wars tapped into the cortexes of America's younglings and delivered big numbers for Cartoon Network on Friday:

The Force is with Cartoon Network as Star Wars™: The Clone Wars™ Blasts Off as the Most-Watched Series Premiere in Network History

Fresh from its across-the-board prime-time delivery and ratings growth in third quarter, Cartoon Network rocketed to new delivery heights with the premiere of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. The new Lucasfilm Animation series scored as the most-watched series premiere in network history, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research. The one-hour new series premiere also reigned as the #1 program from 9-10 p.m. among all major kids networks in kids 6-11, kids 2-11, tweens 9-14, teens 12-7 and persons 2+, earning triple-digit increases compared to the same time period last year. The weekly, CG-animated series also attracted the largest tweens 9-14 audience for any premiere telecast of an original series in Cartoon Network's 16-year history.

[Ratings info for other programming and general network preening redacted.]

Highlights of Cartoon Network's record-setting premiere of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS compared to the same time 2007 time period include the following:

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS (Friday, 9-10 p.m.) vs. the Same Time 2007 Time Period

· Kids 2-11 delivery (1,829,000) grew by 125%

· Kids 6-11 delivery (1,438,000) increased by 120%

· Tweens 9-14 delivery (1,219,000) improved by 91%

· Boys 2-11 delivery (1,395,000) expanded by 150%

· Boys 6-11 delivery (1,159,000) jumped by 160%

· Boys 9-14 delivery (991,000) increased by 133%

Never dismiss the power of the Force.