USA top cable channel in 2009, CNN slides James Hibberd Reuters/The Hollywood Reporter
Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:48am EST http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BS0MY20091229?type=televisionNews LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Not only was USA the most-watched cable network again this year, the channel increased its total primetime audience by 15% -- more than any of its top competitors. USA's drama-series hit factory ("In Plain Sight," "Monk") grew along with "True Blood"-fueled pay network HBO (+41%), and BET (+23%), the latter boosted by its coverage of Michael Jackson's death. Food Network (+26%) cooked up a good year, "Jon & Kate" helped TLC (+18%) and sophomore hit "Sons of Anarchy" aided FX (+10%). On the downside, CNN (-30%) fell more than any other cable network. Lifetime, despite gaining sampling with "Project Runway," dropped sharply (-20%), as did competitor Hallmark (-18%). Several MTV Networks brands slumped, with SpikeTV (-17%), Comedy Central (-10%) and MTV (-10%) down. Here's how the cable networks stacked up this year in primetime: TOTAL VIEWERS USA - 3.28 million average viewers, +15% DISNEY - 2.53 million, +6% TNT - 2.25 million, +2% ESPN - 2.25 million, +9% FOX NEWS - 2.21 million, +7% TBS - 1.84 million, -7% NICK AT NIGHT - 1.73 million, +2% A&E - 1.47 million, +8% FX - 1.37 million, +10% ABC FAMILY - 1.35 million, +4% CARTOON - 1.30 million, -3% SYFY - 1.27 million, -0% DISCOVERY - 1.25 million, +4% HISTORY - 1.21 million, +3% HGTV - 1.20 million, +9% LIFETIME - 1.19 million, -20% FOOD - 1.12 million, +26% HALLMARK - 1.10 million, -18% TRUTV - 1.09 million, +0% TLC - 1.07 million, +18% SPIKE - 1.06 million, -17% AMC - 1.04 million, -6% COMEDY CENTRAL - 992,000, -10% CNN - 908,000, -30% MSNBC - 817,000, -12% MTV - 807,000, -10% BRAVO - 796,000, +6% BET - 777,000, +23% VH1 - 744,000, +0% TVLAND - 720,000, -8% ESPN2 - 694,000, +8% HBO - 693,000, +41% E! - 592,000, +7% * Average primetime audience, 12/29/08 to 12/20/09 compared to same period last year. -- ================================ George Antunes, Political Science Dept University of Houston; Houston, TX 77204 Voice: 713-743-3923 Fax: 713-743-3927 Mail: antunes at uh dot edu *********************************** * POST TO [email protected] * *********************************** Medianews mailing list [email protected] http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
