No one could have seen the massive success of Downton Abbey coming, but the surprising British period drama keeps winning over new fans across the globe every year. And according to PBS (via Coming Soon), last night’s fourth season premiere saw yet another huge number for the show with 10.2 million viewers tuned in.
This placed PBS in a tie with CBS for the most-watched network between 9:00-10:00 p.m. It is also a 22% improvement in viewers over the premiere of season three, which debuted in the United States a year ago.
"As this captivating drama continues, our audiences have been eagerly awaiting this new season to see what's next for these beloved characters," said PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger. "I'm so pleased that millions of viewers have returned to Downton Abbey on their local PBS stations for what has become a post-holiday tradition."
Next time someone tries to tell you that sex and violence are the only ways to attract American audiences, kindly point them in the direction of the Crawley family and make them sit down for a little sophistication.
[PBS via Coming Soon]
