Hitchcock-inspired "Bates Motel" premiere draws record ratings

PanARMENIAN.Net - "Bates Motel" drew some killer ratings for A&E with its premiere Monday, March 18 night, TheWrap said.

The prequel of sorts to the Alfred Hitchcock horror classic "Psycho" drew 3 million total viewers with its 10 p.m. premiere. Though not in the league of the network's reality smash "Duck Dynasty, which drew a record 8.6 million total viewers for A&E with its season premiere, that number makes "Bates Motel" the most-watched original drama premiere in the network's history.

In the key 18-49 demographic, the premiere of "Bates Motel" -- which stars Freddie Highmore as killer-in-training Norman Bates and Vera Farmiga as his mother Norma -- drew 1.6 million total viewers.

With a re-airing taken into account, "Bates Motel" drew 4.6 million total viewers, with 2.4 million of them in the key demo. “'Bates Motel’ represents the very best of quality storytelling with an incredible cast led by Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore,” Bob DeBitetto, president and general manager of A&E Network and BIO Channel, said. “We are extremely pleased with the initial viewer response to this edgy and provocative series and are confident that it will continue to draw in new audiences.”