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via Cartoon Network press release:

Level Up Surges as #1 Telecast in its Time Period Among Kids 6-11;
Also Ranks as #1 Telecast of the Day Among Kids 9-14 and All Boys

Original Movie Captures More Than 2.5 Million Viewers 2+; Posts Triple-Digit Gains vs. Prior Four Weeks

Themed CartoonNetwork.com Game Scores as #1 Site Game Launch of 2011-to-Date;
Attracts 975,000 Players and Three Million Game-Plays

Half-hour Series to Premiere in January 2012

Leveling all competition across its 90-minute original movie premiere (Wednesday, Nov. 23, 7-8:30 p.m.), Cartoon Network’s live-action/CG-animated Level Up ranked #1 in its time period among kids 6-11, and out-performed both cable and broadcast networks by mostly double and triple-digits among kids 9-14 and all boy demos (2-11, 6-11, 9-14) for #1 Telecast of the Day, according to Nielsen Media Research. The live-action/CG-animated movie also helped propel Cartoon Network to reign as television’s top destination on Wednesday (6 a.m.-9 p.m.) among boys 6-11 and 9-14. Overall, a total of 2,549,148 viewers ages 2+ tuned in to the Level Up movie premiere.

Significantly, Level Up’s performance built across each half hour with most boy demos. Kid demos also increased by double digits from the first half-hour to the final 30 minutes—kids 2-11 grew by 13%, kids 6-11 by 15%, kids 9-14 by 13% and kids 12-17 by 12%. Additionally, a themed online game at CartoonNetwork.com presented concurrently with the movie on Nov. 23, “Maldark: Conqueror of All Worlds,” scored as the network’s #1 Game Launch of 2011-to-date, attracting more than 975,000 Unique Players and three million game-plays.

Highlights of Level Up’s overall national ratings performance vs. Cartoon Network’s previous four weeks’ average performance include the following:

• Kids 2-11 delivery (1,409,000) increased by 112%, and ratings (3.4) by 113%
• Kids 6-11 delivery (1,134,000) increased by 148%, and ratings (4.6) by 142%
• Kids 9-14 delivery (1,053,000) increased by 175%, and ratings (4.4) by 175%
• Kids 12-17 delivery (443,000) increased by 130%, and ratings (1.8) by 125%
• Boys 2-11 delivery (1,064,000) increased by 116%, and ratings (5.1) by 122%
• Boys 6-11 delivery (885,000) increased by 147%, and ratings (7.1) by 145%
• Boys 9-14 delivery (834,000) increased by 186%, and ratings (6.8) by 183%
• Boys 12-17 delivery (320,000) increased by 139%, and ratings (2.6) by 136%

Cartoon Network’s original movie, Level Up delivered hilarious comedy when three high school gamers, Wyatt (Gaelan Connell), Lyle (Jessie T. Usher) and Dante (Connor del Rio), unwittingly open a portal from an online game into the real world. The boys must put aside their differences and join forces with their classmate Angie (Aimee Carrero) to work together IRL (in real life) to win the game and save the world. Level Up is created and written by Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman (both credited for Chasing Liberty) and the movie is directed by Peter Lauer (Sons of Tucson, Chuck).

Picking up where the movie leaves off, the talented cast will return in a new half-hour series Level Up, premiering in January 2012 on Cartoon Network. The original series is executive produced by Peter Murrieta (Wizards of Waverly Place, Hope and Faith).

Fans of Level Up can log on to www.CartoonNetwork.com to play the game inspired by the movie—“Maldark: Conqueror of All Worlds”—a high-quality 3D “dungeon-crawl” adventure game where players take on one of three classes and navigate a dynamic labyrinthine environment. Launched concurrently with the movie premiere on Wednesday, Nov. 23, the game to date has already attracted more than 975,000 players and more than three million game-plays. Players battle 40+ monsters and earn treasure completing quests across 30 dungeon levels, defeating each boss through entertaining and engaging game-play. “Maldark: Conqueror of All Worlds” features voice over from the cast and quests from the writers of Level Up the movie.

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 99 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 animated and live-action series 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.