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5.6 Million Viewers Tuned In To The 'Love & Hip Hop Atlanta' Season 3 Premiere!

The third season of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta kicked off on Monday with a bang (no pun intended, Mimi), as fans were excited for the return of the incredible and outrageous storylines of Joseline Hernandez and Stevie J, Rasheeda and Kirk Frost, Lil Scrappy and Momma Dee, and newcomers Waka Flocka Flame and Tammy Rivera. In fact, y'all were so excited that over 5.6 million of you tuned in to watch on Monday night, and the show was the #1 most social show on television (we see you on Instagram and Twitter and we thank you for being so hilarious). Take a look at the show's big numbers, and don't forget to tune in TONIGHT at 8PM ET/PT for episode two. (The show's regular schedule will resume on Monday at 8PM with episode 3.)

DEBUT OF "LOVE & HIP HOP: ATLANTA" SEASON 3 PROPELS VH1 TO #1 RANKING AMONG ADULTS 18-49, WOMEN 18-49 AND WOMEN 18-34 IN ITS CABLE TIME SLOT ON MONDAY

5.6 Million Total Viewers Tune In For The Season Premiere Monday Night on VH1*

Episode Ranked as the #1 Most Social Show on All TV (Broadcast + Cable) Including Sports Events**

New York, NY – May 7, 2014 – Everyone's been talking about VH1's hit series "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta," and the buzz helped the season 3 premiere on Monday, May 5th at 8:00 PM ET/ PT deliver a 2.3 rating (P18-49, Live + SD), up +15% from the season 2 premiere on April 22, 2013.

Over 3.8 million total viewers tuned in to the season premiere at 8:00 PM to catch the series' signature brand of drama, music, temptation and love. When combined with the 9:30 PM ET/ PT encore, 5.6 million total viewers tuned in to watch the action unfold last night. VH1 was the #1 rated cable network at 8:00 PM among adults 18-49, women 18-49, and women 18-34. "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" was also the top-rated non-sports telecast on cable for the day with adults 18-49, women 18-49, and women 18-34.

The much discussed series ranked as the #1 most social show on all TV (both broadcast and cable) Monday night, including sports events (Source: SocialGuide). The season 3 premiere also yielded a total of 33 trends on Twitter, with 257,540 unique tweeters producing a total of 1.66 million tweets -- three times as many tweets as the 2nd most social show of the night (NBA Playoffs Clippers vs. Thunder).

VH1's hugely popular digital series, "Check Yourself," also returned in a big way on Monday night with enhanced opportunities for viewers to engage on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and in the VH1 App this season using the tag #CheckYoSelfie. This new initiative helped the series' official page on Facebook gain 26,000 new fans in 1 day, and pushed a 267% increase in followers of the new Instagram account @LoveHipHopVH1.

At 9:00 PM, "T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle" hit a season high with a 1.7 P18-49 rating.

Be sure to check out an all-new episode of "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" airing on a special night tonight (Wednesday, May 7th) at 8:00 PM ET/ PT on VH1 followed by season premieres of "Hollywood Exes," "La La's Full Court Life" and "Marrying The Game."

"Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" returns to its regularly scheduled time Mondays at 8:00 PM ET/ PT on VH1 next week (Monday, May 12, 2014).

Now in its third season, "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" continues to give fans an unfiltered look into the lives of those aspiring to make a name for themselves in ATL – whatever it takes.

This time around, hit rappers Yung Joc and Waka Flocka Flame, along with Diddy-Dirty Money's Kalenna Harper, join fan favorites Joseline, Stevie J., Mimi, Lil Scrappy, Erica, Karlie, Benzino, Rasheeda and Kirk for an explosive look into the world of Atlanta's entertainment elite.

"Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" is executive produced by Mona Scott-Young for Monami Entertainment and Toby Barraud and Stefan Springman for Eastern TV. Susan Levison, Nina L. Diaz, Brad Abramson, and Danielle Gelfand are executive producers for VH1. Vivian Gomez is coordinating producer for VH1.

For additional information on VH1 follow @VH1 on Twitter or "Like" VH1 on Facebook, and visit VH1.com for all the latest in music and celebrity news.