Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins Scores as Cartoon Network’s Most-Watched Telecast in Network History

Scooby-Doo and the teen gang of mystery-solvers invoked supernatural delivery and ratings strength Sunday night when Cartoon Network premiered the original live-action movie special Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins (7 p.m., ET/PT), setting all-new records as the most-watched telecast in Cartoon Network history, according to preliminary overnight data from Nielsen Media Research. The live-action and CG-animated film delivered 6,107,000 with viewers age 2+ and became the #1 telecast in network history with kids 2-11 (7.4 / 3,032,000), kids 6-11 (9.3 / 2,296,000), kids 9-14 (7.5 / 1,831,000), boys 2-11 (9.4 / 1,978,000) and boy 6-11 (12.2 / 1,538,000).

A co-production of Warner Premiere and Cartoon Network, Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins reveals the never-before-told story of how the Mystery Inc. gang first joined forces to solve a suspicious haunting at Coolsville High. Teachers and students alike accuse Fred, Velma, Daphne and Shaggy of playing a spooky prank. Suddenly, the school athlete, the science fair-winning brainiac, the drama beauty and the school misfit must band together to clear their names. With Shaggy’s newly adopted dog Scooby-Doo tagging along, the mismatched quartet soon discovers they have more in common than they originally thought. Warner Home Video will release Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins on DVD and Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def Combo Pack on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

The live-action cast features Robbie Amell (Life With Derek, True Jackson) as Fred, along with Kate Melton as Daphne, Hayley Kiyoko as Velma and Nick Palatas as Shaggy. Frank Welker, a member of the original Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! voice-cast, provides the voice of Scooby-Doo. Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins is directed by Brian Levant (Snow Dogs, The Flintstones), produced by Brian Gilbert (Wrong Turn) and written by Daniel and Steven Altiere (Dr. Dolittle: A Tinsel Town Tail, Gym Teacher: The Movie).

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 97 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for youth and families. Nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

RATING PERIOD: 9/13/09