'Hatfields & McCoys' is a ratings record-setter

Posted May 31, 2012 10:00 pm

By Lynn Elber Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — In the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys, the History Channel proved the winner.

A miniseries about the warring families set basic cable viewing records, according to Nielsen Co. figures the History Channel released Thursday.

The channel says the three nights of “Hatfields & McCoys” were the top-rated entertainment telecasts ever for ad-supported basic cable.

Wednesday's finale of “Hatfields & McCoys” was the most-watched of the three nights, with 14.3 million viewers. According to the History Channel, that makes it the No. 1 non-sports and non-news program ever on ad-supported cable.

The miniseries starred Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton as the patriarchs of the West Virginia and Kentucky clans whose violent clashes had roots in the American Civil War.

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