• by David Goetzl , September 1, 2009

Only three episodes into season three, AMC surprised absolutely no one by saying "Mad Men" would be back next year for a fourth go-round.

This season's first episode drew a record 4.5 million viewers, while the ad business at Sterling Cooper provides AMC with ammunition in negotiations with distributors. AMC said the show delivers the highest concentration of upscale adults in the 25-to-54 demo among basic cable networks, making it attractive to advertisers.

So far this season, the series is averaging 2.1 million total viewers, above 1.5 million at the same point last season. In adults 18-49 this year, the show is averaging 971,000 viewers, higher than 734,000 last year. AMC also said that for adults 18-49, 43% of the audience live in households with incomes of $100,000-plus per year.

In 2008, more than 30 million viewers watched 'Mad Men' on-air, VOD or via iTunes.

The series, produced by Lionsgate and AMC, recently received 16 Emmy nominations -- the most for any drama series -- including outstanding drama, outstanding lead actor in a drama (Jon Hamm), outstanding supporting actor in a drama (John Slattery) and outstanding lead actress in a drama (Elisabeth Moss).

Creator, writer and executive producer Matthew Weiner has received four out of the five nominations in the outstanding writing for a drama series category.

Charlie Collier, president and general manager of AMC, said the show is part of the network's "strategy of developing cinematic television that complements our library" of films.