‘Broken Trail’ leads AMC to top spot

Sunday’s “Broken Trail” on AMC rustled up something surprising out there on the range: ratings that beat every program that night on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox.

The first part of the western miniseries, starring and executive produced by Robert Duvall, gathered a whopping 9.8 million total viewers, according to data reported Tuesday from Nielsen Media Research. (Ratings for Monday’s second and final part will be available on Wednesday). That made “Broken Trail,” AMC’s first original scripted movie, the No. 2 most-watched made-for-cable movie since 1995, behind another western, TNT’s “Crossfire Trail” (12.5 million) in 2001.

Perhaps more significant, “Trail” was more watched than any of that night’s programs on broadcast TV, including ABC’s repeat of “Desperate Housewives” (4.5 million) and a repeat of the Jennifer Lopez thriller “Enough” on CBS (7.2 million). In recent years, basic cable has increasingly used original summer movies and series to steal viewers away from broadcasters. This month, the second-season premiere of TNT’s cop drama “The Closer” broke records with 8.2 million total viewers.

“Broken Trail,” which cost a reported $15 million, represents a vindication of sorts for AMC. For years, the network was known as a depot for classic Hollywood fare. More recently, viewers have complained about considerably less acclaimed titles added to the mix, such as “Smokey and the Bandit II” and “Staying Alive.” But over the last year, the channel has moved aggressively to add original movies and series, although network President Ed Carroll says theatrical movies will remain 90% of the channel’s offerings.

“This is the first step for AMC in expanding our movie heritage into originals,” Carroll said Tuesday.

AMC has already announced that it will do an Americanized version of the BBC’s popular caper series, “Hustle.” And the network is doing its first drama pilot, “Mad Men,” set in the 1960s advertising world.

But FX and HBO need not worry that AMC will horn in on their turf. The high numbers for “Broken Trail” prove traditional fare has a home on basic cable, Carroll said.

“Scripts don’t need to be edgy or push the envelope to get an audience,” he said.