The Statler Brothers Farewell Concert is the highest-rated show on a public television station on August 12

Recently, The Statler Brothers Farewell Concert has been earning high ratings on public television stations around the country. KETA/Oklahoma aired the concert at 7:00 p.m. on August 12 and the broadcast earned a 4.9 rating and an 8 share, making it the highest-rated show on a public television station in primetime that night.

The concert has been successful for other stations as well. One the same evening, the program aired on KOED+/Tulsa at 7:00 p.m. and received a 4.6 rating and an 8 share. KAET/Phoenix aired the concert on August 11 at 7:00 p.m. and earned a 3.2 rating and a 5 share, while WKNO/Memphis broadcast the concert on August 3 at 9:00 p.m. and earned a 2.6 rating and a 4 share.

"Unlike so many pledge programs that have low ratings but sometimes high dollars, The Statler Brothers Farewell Concert achieved a record high rating of 4.9% for its premiere broadcast in Oklahoma while garnering $31,000 in pledges," said Bill Thrash, station manager of OETA. "It was scheduled in the Thursday night 7:00-8:30 p.m. time slot on OETA-The Oklahoma Network, and we advertised it on an Oklahoma City radio station and a print ad in the Oklahoma City newspaper," added Thrash.

The Statler Brothers are one of country music's most successful bands whose four-part harmonies have helped sustain the bands popularity for over 40 years. After 32 albums that have sold over 100 million copies, brothers Harold and Don Reid, Jimmy Fortune, and Phil Balsley decided to retire. They performed their last concert on October 26, 2002. The Statler Brothers Farewell Concert documents this final performance and is a tribute to one of the most popular bands in country music history.

The Statler Brothers Farewell Concert debuted March 1, 2004 through APT Syndication and is now licensed by 32 public television stations. The program is produced and licensed through Yell Records. Available pledge merchandise includes a DVD, VHS and CD. Stations interested in adding this program should contact Loretta Davidson at Loretta_Davidson@APTonline.org.