ASIA-PACIFIC – SINGAPORE, APRIL 15, 2013 – Dr. Hannibal Lecter made his highly anticipated TV debut last week and Southeast Asian audiences were hungry for every minute. Premiering on April 9, 2013 on Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia’s flagship channel, AXN, Hannibal was the No. 1 program in its timeslot among ad-supported channels in Southeast Asia, leading the nearest competitor by 28 percent.
The highly stylized thriller did especially well in its key markets, Singapore and Malaysia. In Singapore, Hannibal’s premiere led its timeslot among international General Entertainment (GE) channels, garnering more than twice the ratings of the next GE channel. The premiere in Malaysia also topped its timeslot among international GE channels, with ratings that were 70 percent ahead of the closest competitor.
“Hannibal is off to a solid start and we are especially proud given that this is only our second scripted original production since The Firm. Everyone loves a good thriller, and this one has all the best ingredients – a meld of creative minds and a solid cast including Cannes Film Festival’s Best Actor of 2012, Mads Mikkelsen, who portrays Lecter with the perfect touch of cunning and sophistication,” said Ricky Ow, executive vice president and general manager, Networks, Sony Pictures Television.
Helmed by artistic visionaries Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies, Heroes) and David Slade (The Twilight Sage: Eclipse, 30 Days of Night), Hannibal explores the early relationship of Thomas Harris’ famous characters – psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen, The Hunt, Casino Royale) and his patient, ted FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy, King Arthur, Hysteria). The series also stars Laurence Fishburne (CSI, The Matrix) and boasts a star-studded guest star roll which includes Gillian Anderson (The X Files) and Lance Henriksen (Aliens). Hannibal airs at 10pm on Mondays in the Philippines and on Tuesdays in East Asia.
