A&E is wrapping up the best year in the network’s history among all key demographics, ranking number 5 in adults 25-54 and 6 in adults 18-49. This achievement will mark the fifth straight year of growth for the twenty-four year-old network.

Among all ad-supported cable networks in 2008, A&E ranks number 5 in adults 25-54 (up from number 7 in 2007) and number 6 in adults 18-49 (up from number 8 in 2007), finishing ahead of other top ten networks including SCI FI, Lifetime, Discovery and Spike in both demos. With just two weeks left in the year, A&E is averaging 690,000 adults 25-54 impressions in prime time, an 8% increase from 2007. Among adults 18-49, A&E has also climbed 8% over 2007, to 665,000 viewers.

“2008 was marked by the strong performance of A&E’s unparalleled slate of real life programming, the introduction of first class original scripted drama and a comprehensive repositioning of the network around Real Life. Drama,” said Bob DeBitetto, President and General Manager of A&E and BIO. “It has truly been a remarkable year for A&E, with strong growth throughout the year against a very competitive landscape. This performance gives us great momentum as we look to ’09 and the imminent launch of our second scripted series, ‘The Beast’ starring Patrick Swayze, in January.”

In a few short years, A&E has risen 10 spots in adults 25-54 (from #15 to #5) and an amazing 15 notches in adults 18-49 (from #21 to #6), making A&E the fastest climber among the major cable networks. Among the target demo of adults 25-54, A&E has finished among cable’s top ten networks for 28 consecutive months.

In 2008, eight original series have averaged near or above one million viewers in the adults 25-54 and 18-49 demographics and a record nine series have performed at least 25% stronger than A&E’s prime average in adults 25-54, up from five in 2007.

2008 marked A&E’s reintroduction of first-class original scripted drama beginning with the two-night epic event “The Andromeda Strain,” produced by Ridley and Tony Scott, which averaged 2.7 million viewers adults 25-54 and 2.4 million adults 18-49, ranking as the #1 cable mini-series on the year and garnering 7 Emmy® nominations.

The first scripted drama in six years, “The Cleaner” staring Benjamin Bratt premiered in July. In its first season, on a weekly three telecast cume basis “The Cleaner” averaged 4.2 million total viewers, 2.4 million adults 25-54 and 2.2 million adults 18-49 in primetime. “The Cleaner” has become A&E’s number one original drama in network history among adults 18-49 and 25-54, roughly doubling the audience of the previous two series in those demos.

In addition to receiving its first Emmy® nomination for Outstanding Reality Series in 2008, the Real-Life series “Intervention” grew its audience by 56% over last year, averaged 1.4 million adults 25-54. The sixth season premiere on December 15 became the series’ best season opener in series history among all key demos. The episode averaged 1.6 million adults 25-54, 1.7 million adults 18-49 and 2.2 million total viewers.

In 2008, eight original series have averaged near or above one million viewers in the adults 25-54 and 18-49 demographics and a record nine series have performed at least 25% stronger than A&E’s prime average in adults 25-54, up from five in 2007.

2008 marked A&E’s reintroduction of first-class original scripted drama beginning with the two-night epic event “The Andromeda Strain,” produced by Ridley and Tony Scott, which averaged 2.7 million viewers adults 25-54 and 2.4 million adults 18-49, ranking as the #1 cable mini-series on the year and garnering 7 Emmy® nominations.

The first scripted drama in six years, “The Cleaner” staring Benjamin Bratt premiered in July. In its first season, on a weekly three telecast cume basis “The Cleaner” averaged 4.2 million total viewers, 2.4 million adults 25-54 and 2.2 million adults 18-49 in primetime. “The Cleaner” has become A&E’s number one original drama in network history among adults 18-49 and 25-54, roughly doubling the audience of the previous two series in those demos.

In addition to receiving its first Emmy® nomination for Outstanding Reality Series in 2008, the Real-Life series “Intervention” grew its audience by 56% over last year, averaged 1.4 million adults 25-54. The sixth season premiere on December 15 became the series’ best season opener in series history among all key demos. The episode averaged 1.6 million adults 25-54, 1.7 million adults 18-49 and 2.2 million total viewers.

Near where I live there is a stream.  It  rages and surges and swells as it winds its way.  It is not uncommon to see folks along it’s banks picnicking, fishing, or just sitting to watch the water on it’s journey.  For the more brave of heart, it’s a great place to canoe.  Before it continues it’s trek to the Mississippi, via ever building waters, it pours into a calm and peaceful lake that was created by a damn on the far end of town.

One day one of these brave souls entered the stream quite some distance up from town. He had one goal in mind:  Paddle to the Mississippi.  The water was high, the rapids were churning.  He had second thoughts at first, but steeling up his courage he finally entered the river. It was difficult at first, torturous.  It took all of his effort and concentration to keep on course or even from capsizing. He paid attention to every swirl, every rock, every tree branch.  But as time went on it got easier and he got better at the challenge, even to the point where he could begin to enjoy some of the scenery.

Still, he was so relieved when he reached the lake.  The waters were still, just a ripple from the gentle breeze, and the sun was out.  Ducks and geese were paddling along the shoreline.  He noticed a Mom and Dad trying to teach their little one to swim and he laughed out loud at their mixed results.  A campfire burned on the shoreline off to the side of him and people were roasting hot dogs.

Sliding his paddle through the struts and into the canoe, he lay back to bask in the sunshine.  And to make a long story short, next thing he knew, he was wet and battered at the bottom of the dam.

WHY did this happen?  Did he have a broken paddle?  No.  A defective canoe?  No.  Was the river or the obstacles in it to blame?  What about the dam?  Again no. (Actually, dams are good, they are a gift, a service.  They provide opportunities for drinking water, and fishing, and relaxing.)  So why?  He had become complacent, he had lost sight of his goal.

DID this happen?  No, although the stream, the lake and the dam really do exist here where I live.

But then again….

I got in the stream of recovery back in the 70’s.  It wasn’t all clear sailing and in fact, very rough at times.  We all have rocks, and branches, and eddies that can take us down. Don’t we?  But I was motivated, focused, there was a lot at stake.  I was shot out of a cannon.  Months passed, years went by.  Life was good, life is good.

I know and know of people who, when things go wrong, it becomes their “reason” to go out and drink or use to console themselves.  I also know those who, when things are great, that is their “reason” to go out a celebrate with their substance of choice. That is not, nor has that been me. Frankly, I am not the kind of person that is easily battered by circumstances.  And I am not prone to overreact when things are great.  The good and the bad that life brings my way are just that, life.  And in fact, when it comes to recovery I have learned that those are times that call for extra concentration and diligence.  But despite that, and to make another long story short, one day I woke up at the bottom of a dam.

This is my parable.  Each of us need to figure out how it applies, and what is really the stream and rocks and lakes and dams in our lives.  I am not going to psychoanalyze all the how’s and why’s of this right now, except to say this:  I had become complacent. And I got a wake up call without causing myself or anyone else irreparable harm.  Is God gracious or what.

Want to know the funniest (not Ha Ha funny) part of the whole thing?  Next to the river, at the bottom of the dam is the local AA building. (FOR REAL, no really!).  I mean, does God have a sense of humor or what?  After living in many places over the many years, I “find” myself (and isn’t that one of the things God does, help us find ourselves?) living in a town where I am constantly reminded to be alert, keep focused, and to keep paddling my little  recovery canoe one day at a time.

Weird, huh….(or is it?)