Animal Planet Finds Mammoth-Sized Ratings For “Finding Bigfoot”
Posted by: Craig Woolheater on March 15th, 2012
Source: Animal Planet Press Releases
Network Orders Additional Episodes of the Series That Squatched Season One Ratings
(New York, New York, March 12, 2012) – Animal Planet’s FINDING BIGFOOT concluded a strong nine-episode run this past Sunday with the second season averaging more than 1.3M P2+ viewers, up 15% vs. season one (1.38M vs. 1.2M). It now ranks among Animal Planet’s top-three performing series of all time among P2+. Animal Planet ordered additional episodes, which are slated to air later this year, including two to be shot internationally.
Overall, FINDING BIGFOOT season two premieres outpaced season one performance across all key demos, including P25-54 +17% (716K vs. 612K); P18-49 +23% (682K vs. 554K); M25-54 +9% (418K vs. 382K); and W25-54 +30% (298K vs. 229K). FINDING BIGFOOT helped Animal Planet rank among the top-five ad-supported cable networks in the Sun 10 PM hour based on M25-54 delivery in 1Q12 to date (excluding movies and sports). The FINDING BIGFOOT episodes, “Baby Bigfoot” and “Buckeye Bigfoot,” each brought in 1.6M P2+ viewers and rank as the series’ most-watched episodes ever.
About FINDING BIGFOOT: From small towns in the south to remote areas of the Pacific Northwest and into Canada, four eccentric but passionate bigfoot researchers embark on one single-minded mission – to find the elusive “creature.” Comprised of Bigfoot Field Research Organization president Matt, crab fisherman Bobo, professional educator Cliff and skeptical scientist Ranae, the foursome engage in the ultimate quest in search of proof that sasquatches really do exist and are alive and well in North America.
FINDING BIGFOOT is a produced for Animal Planet by Ping Pong Productions. Brad Kuhlman and Casey Brumels are the executive producers for Ping Pong, and Keith Hoffman is the executive producer for Animal Planet.
Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, is the world’s only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment. APM consists of the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 96 million homes in the US; online assets www.animalplanet.com, the ultimate online destination for all things animal; the 24/7 broadband channel, Animal Planet Beyond; Petfinder.com, the #1 pet-related Web property globally that facilitates pet adoption; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.
Co-founder of Cryptomundo in 2005.
I have appeared in or contributed to the following TV programs, documentaries and films:
OLN's Mysterious Encounters: "Caddo Critter", Southern Fried Bigfoot, Travel Channel's Weird Travels: "Bigfoot", History Channel's MonsterQuest: "Swamp Stalker", The Wild Man of the Navidad, Destination America's Monsters and Mysteries in America: Texas Terror - Lake Worth Monster, Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: Return to Boggy Creek and Beast of the Bayou.
High ratings almost never mean good tv. Because there’s just little good tv.
But I will say this and have said it here. The vast majority of the recent reports I see on the BFRO database now are of encounters within the past two years. They read just like the ones I’ve been reading for a long time now. Anyone who thinks this crew is making those reports up simply doesn’t read them; it’s an absurd notion.
So I would have to say the show appears to be doing something.
Glad to see they have strong ratings. I’m all for anything that brings Bigfoot research into the public eye in a responsible manner. I just don’t see why in this particular instance. I don’t find a great deal in this particular show myself, but I’m glad that some will watch it, and maybe want to take their personal interests to the next level.
The positive spin I’ll put on this is that people are interested in Bigfoot, and it’s getting into the mainstream of acceptance. Perhaps this show, even though it isn’t “good” tv, is getting people involved and interested in this critter that is afoot in the woods and wilderness of the country.
And the more people who know, and who get into this game, the more eyes there are looking. So despite my criticisms of the show on a usual basis, kudos for at least being able to draw in a solid audience–it looks like I’ll get to have another season where I can roll my eyes, sit dumbfounded and maybe one of these days we’ll get lucky and the show will have something really good to show for itself…
Agreed the show is a step forward in that it details the experiences of some fairly credible people which may help others coming forward.
However, on the flip side FB should lose the nightly excursions and the everything is a Squatch MO.
What also should be lost is that with every re-inactment the CG squatchs formidable appearance and growl as the menacing appearance is hardly ever reported.
Stinky
I sure also think that wandering about in the woods is not a very good way to see any wildlife- they run off long before you would get a glimpse.
But I find myself loving the show and wishing that there really are Sasquatches!
I watch the show all the time with my grandkids and they think it’s a hoot. Now if we go camping, however, they said they would be freaked out!! Maybe I should not have let them watch it!! Oh well…