As a die-hard Shark Week fan, I can confidently say that this year’s event has been nothing short of jaw-dropping! With John Cena as the host, Discovery Channel managed to break its own records and become the #1 primetime cable network for those seven days. The ratings were impressive, reaching a staggering 25 million viewers across multiple key demographics.
Every summer, there’s nothing more dependable than Shark Week, a long-running event that Discovery Channel has been broadcasting for close to four decades. Many loyal viewers anticipate it every year, and this year, WWE superstar John Cena served as the host. It’s typical for Shark Week to bring in famous faces, with previous hosts including basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal (who isn’t fond of sharks), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Jason Momoa before the release of Aquaman 2. In the TV schedule for 2024, however, Shark Week outdid itself with Cena leading the way.
Shark Week’s 2024 Record-Breaking Ratings
Following the release of ratings for 2024, it turned out that Discovery surpassed its own Shark Week record from previous years. With a total of 21 additional hours of content, Discovery Channel took the top spot among all prime-time cable networks (excluding sports and news) during those seven days. The channel excelled in various key adult demographics. In total, Shark Week 2024 garnered approximately 25 million viewers when combining numbers from Discovery Channel, Max, and discovery+. This represented a significant increase of 10% compared to the previous year, making me one of the 25 million viewers who were thrilled by this year’s successful programming!
During the past week, Discovery channel dominated the top ten broadcasts for viewers aged 25-54, with shows like “Expedition Unknown: Sharks vs. Nazis in Paradise”, “Jaws vs. Leviathan”, “Caught! When Sharks Attack”, “Great White Serial Killer: Sea of Blood”, “Great White Danger Zone”, “Makozilla”, and “Belly of the Beast: Bigger and Bloodier” making the list. I’m particularly pleased that this year’s edition of “Great White Serial Killer” was well-received following Paul de Gelder’s accounts about filming it.
If you caught Discovery Live, you might have seen an abundance of advertising for the upcoming series titled “In the Eye of the Storm“. This series premiered a day after Shark Week concluded, and it became the highest-rated freshman premiere for the network without a spinoff, in the last three years. Now, I’m not suggesting that John Cena is solely responsible for this success, but his lively hosting style certainly seemed to contribute to it. Moreover, one of Shark Week’s recurring experts praised him highly.
What Tom “The Blowfish” Hird Told Us About Jon Cena And What He’s Grateful For
As a seasoned marine biologist and Shark Week veteran, I, Tom “The Blowfish” Hird, have once again graced our screens this year, following my lead role in last year’s gripping special, “Cocaine Sharks.” This time around, I teamed up with fellow ocean scientist Leigh de Necker for the enthralling “6000-LB. Shark,” an exhilarating journey to uncover the ocean’s largest white sharks. The experience was nothing short of extraordinary, as we dived deep into the heart of the sea, pushing the limits of our knowledge and endurance.
It’s unfortunate that there’s only one performance, but it’s an outstanding one – the 6000 Pound Shark is definitely worth watching. By chance, I had the pleasure of meeting John Cena, and let me tell you, it was a blast! Despite his reputation, he’s quite petite. You wouldn’t expect it, but he’s a genuinely nice person. I appreciate his friendly demeanor.
John Cena may be known for various roles, but he certainly isn’t petite – that much is clear! Despite his jests, Hird genuinely expressed that working alongside him during Shark Week was a delightful experience.
John is truly an amazing individual, there’s no denying that. He’s in top-notch shape and has a terrific personality, but let me make this clear – he’s shorter than I am. Now, to put things into perspective, I’m taller than John Cena! [laughs]
Tom Hird might think he’s quite fortunate to engage with John Cena, but during the 6000-LB Shark, luck wasn’t entirely on his side. Enclosed in a cage submerged beneath the sea, filled with sharks, the winch malfunctioned, which was his sole connection to the boat that was waiting for him above the water surface.
In my own words as a fan, I’d rephrase it like this: “Following my reckless move of dropping a ‘shark bait’ bomb, I found myself engulfed by massive, ravenous, and lethal sharks. My crew up above held back the truth about our malfunction to spare me from additional stress. Looking back, it’s an ordeal I wouldn’t wish on anyone!”
As a seasoned adventurer who has faced numerous challenges in my life, I can truly appreciate the exhilarating experience that the speaker describes. Being oblivious to the danger and chaos unfolding beneath the surface allowed me to fully immerse myself in the thrill of the moment, much like riding a rollercoaster blindfolded at a fair. It was only when I resurfaced, mask off, did I realize the gravity of the situation. But in that moment of clarity, I was nothing but grateful for the skilled boat crew who kept me safe. The adrenaline rush and sense of relief upon returning to solid ground were unparalleled, making this experience one for the books.
Luckily, Tom Hird managed to find humor in the situation before our conversation, prior to Shark Week. It was quite a nerve-wracking spectacle to witness from afar, and I only wish more viewers had tuned in for 6000-LB Shark, as it might have made the top ten list of broadcasts during that week.
Considering these facts, it’s clear that Shark Week 2024 was a massive success for Warner Bros. Discovery, and with Max subscriptions, fans can rewatch the specials anytime through streaming. You can expect Shark Week to dominate cable television once more next summer. The question is who Discovery will hire as the host for 2025.
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2024-08-01 05:07