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Published On: Thu, Apr 2nd, 2015

‘Killing Jesus’ breaks Nat Geo records, to replay on Good Friday, Easter

National Geographic Channel’s Sunday night premiere of KILLINGJESUS — hailed by critics as “gritty and moving,” “beautifully subtle,” “compelling” and “thoughtful” — set record ratings for the network, with 3.7 million persons 2+ tuning in to the three-hour special, the highest total viewership in NGC’s history!
For the premiere airing at 8 p.m. E/7C, KIILLING JESUS garnered a 2.8 HH rating — the second highest HH in network history — and a 1.0 P25-54.
Furthermore, the 1.0 P25-54 is the highest rated P25-54 since the premiere of KILLING KENNEDY in November 2013 (1.1 P25-54) and is more than 300% higher than NGC’s Sunday 8-11 p.m. average so far this calendar year.
Stephen Moyer, as Pontius PIlate, approaching Jerusalem.

(photo credit:  National Geographic Channels/Kent Eanes)

Stephen Moyer, as Pontius PIlate, approaching Jerusalem.

(photo credit: National Geographic Channels/Kent Eanes)

Since its launch, the KILLING JESUS film microsite (natgeotv.com/killingjesus) has generated over 1 million impressions, with the average visitor spending approximately 30 minutes on the site. Last night, the microsite garnered a 125% increase above daily visitor average (and a 10% increase over KILLING KENNEDY site visits on its premiere day), propelling it as the network’s best performing digital show extension to date.

KILLING JESUS encores on FOX News Channel this Friday, April 3, at 8 p.m. ET and Easter Sunday, April 5, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Produced by Scott Free Productions and based on the New York Times best-selling book by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard, the film dives deep inside the historical story of how Jesus’ message and preachings led to his persecution and execution by a group of conspirators who saw him as a threat to their power. The film is the third collaboration between NGC, Scott Free and Bill O’Reilly, whose first two projects together, Emmy-nominated KILLING KENNEDY and KILLING LINCOLN were respectively the two most watched programs in the network’s history until last night.
KILLING JESUS was our most ambitious production to date, coupled with one of our largest cross-platform promotional campaigns,” said National Geographic Channels CEO Courteney Monroe. “We are thrilled that audiences responded to the film with the same enthusiasm and passion we had for this production since day one. The success of our premiere last night is due to the hard work and dedication of the production team on the ground in Morocco, the talented and versatile cast and the support of our partners at National Geographic and Fox.”
The film also premiered last night on Nat Geo MUNDO in the U.S., and will air globally in 171 countries in 45 languages.
With a script from Academy and Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Walon Green (“The Wild Bunch”), and directed by BAFTA Award-winner Chris Menaul (“The Passion of Ayn Rand,” “Fatherland”), KILLING JESUS brings a rich perspective to Jesus’ story that clearly intrigued believers and nonbelievers alike. Combining epic cinematography with intimate storytelling, the film was shot entirely in the Moroccan desert with a crew of 250 and more than 4,500 extras.
The 93 speaking roles are brought to life by an incredibly diverse cast, with actors representing Lebanon, Morocco, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Great Britain, Israel, Canada, Syria, Australia and the United States. The massive production, unlike anything undertaken by National Geographic Channel before, put familiar Biblical characters under a new lens to give them layers of meaning rarely explored before.
Brandon Jones’ official review of Killing Jesus – read here
Dispatch Review (by Debbie Sage) – click here
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  1. Nearly 10 Million People Watched "A.D.: The Bible Continues" on Easter Sunday; 2.5 Million Watched "Killing Jesus" - Urban Christian News says:

    […] unveiling of Killing Jesus nabbed 3.7 million viewers across the previous Sunday night — the biggest audience in that network’s history,” Deadline […]

  2. Nearly 10 Million People Watched “A.D.: The Bible Continues” on Easter Sunday; 2.5 Million Watched “Killing Jesus” | Press Pass Report says:

    […] unveiling of Killing Jesus nabbed 3.7 million viewers across the previous Sunday night — the biggest audience in that network’s history,” Deadline […]

  3. Nearly 10 Million People Watched “A.D.: The Bible Continues” on Easter Sunday; 2.5 Million Watched “Killing Jesus” | BCNN1 WP says:

    […] unveiling of Killing Jesus nabbed 3.7 million viewers across the previous Sunday night — the biggest audience in that network’s history,” Deadline […]

  4. ‘AD The Bible Continues’ opens with 9.5 million viewers, ‘Killing Jesus’ strong for Fox - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] unveiling of Killing Jesus nabbed 3.7 million viewers across the previous Sunday night — the biggest audience in that network’s history,” Deadline […]

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