September 4, 2012 "Breaking Bad" Delivers Exceptional Growth With 2.8 Million Viewers First Half of Season Five Up 56% Over Season Four for Adults 18-49 Up 49% for Adults 25-54 Final 8 Episodes Begin Summer 2013 on AMC NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sunday night's episode of AMC's "Breaking Bad" delivered 2.8 million viewers pushing it up 47% over season four's finale, marking exceptional growth for a fifth season of a cable drama series. Additionally, Sunday's final episode of 2012 was up 57% in household rating, 37% for adults 18-49 and 34% in adults 25-54 when compared to the season four finale of the series. Sunday's episode concluded the first half of season five, with the final 8 episodes of the Emmy® Award-winning drama kicking off next summer. Key Nielsen Highlights for "Breaking Bad's" final episode of 2012 at 10pm: ● 10pm airing — 2.2 HH rating: 57% over season four finale ● 10pm airing — 2.8 million viewers: 47% vs. season four finale ● 10pm airing — 1.7 million adults 18-49: 37% vs. season four finale ● 10pm airing — 1.5 million adults 25-54: 34% vs. season four finale Key Nielsen Highlights for "Breaking Bad's" first 8 episodes of season five: ● 2.1 HH rating: 44% over season four series average ● 2.6 million viewers: 39% vs. season four series average ● 1.6 million adults 18-49: 56% over season four series average ● 1.6 million adults 25-54: 49% vs. season four series average "Congratulations to everyone involved in Sunday's great success and for delivering episode after episode of television that is nothing short of remarkable. 'Breaking Bad' began 5 years ago with a pilot that was like nothing we had ever seen on television," said Charlie Collier, AMC's president. "That 'Breaking Bad' continues to deliver at such a remarkable level creatively, now over 50 episodes later, is a rare accomplishment that begins with Vince Gilligan and the torch is carried by every member of the team on both sides of the camera. We can't wait to share the final eight episodes with our audience." Source: The Nielsen Company, Live SD Data. Breaking Bad Season 5 (8 Ep). 7/15-9/2/12. AMC is carried on every major television provider in the country except Dish. Created by acclaimed writer, producer and director Vince Gilligan and produced by Sony Pictures Television, "Breaking Bad" follows the story of a desperate man who turns to a life of crime to secure his family's financial future. The critically acclaimed series that The Hollywood Reporter called "one of the greatest dramas in TV history," has garnered six Primetime Emmy® Award wins and a Peabody, and been named to the American Film Institute's (AFI) list of the "Top 10 Programs of the Year" (2008, 2010, 2011). This year, the series is nominated for 13 Primetime Emmys including: Outstanding Drama Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Bryan Cranston; Outstanding Supporting Actor for Aaron Paul and Giancarlo Esposito; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for Anna Gunn and Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for Vince Gilligan; among others. "Breaking Bad" stars three-time Emmy® Award winner Bryan Cranston; Emmy® winner Aaron Paul; Anna Gunn; Dean Norris; Betsy Brandt; RJ Mitte; Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks. About AMC AMC reigns as the only cable network in history to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series four years in a row. Whether commemorating favorite films from every genre and decade or creating acclaimed original programming, the AMC experience is an uncompromising celebration of great stories. AMC's original stories include "Mad Men," "Breaking Bad," "The Walking Dead" and "Hell on Wheels." AMC further demonstrates its commitment to the art of storytelling with its slate of unscripted original series, as well as curated movie franchises like AMC's Can't Get Enough and AMC's Crazy About. AMC is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, Sundance Channel and WE tv. AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile. AMC: Story Matters HereSM. CONTACT: Press Contacts: Olivia Dupuis [email protected] 212.324.4748 Lisa Rogen [email protected] 917.542.6216.