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On Super Tuesday, CNN shines again
By Toni Fitzgerald
Feb 13, 2008 - 1:15:23 AM
John McCain isn’t the only comeback kid in this election cycle. CNN, which long ago lost its mantle as the top cable news network to Fox News Channel and has gone through numerous primetime changes in hopes of catching up, has become the go-to network for coverage of this year’s primaries.
The network had the top three cable news shows on Super Tuesday, winning the night in primetime among the three, a week after carrying the most-watched primary debate in cable history.
CNN’s 11 p.m. edition of “Election Center: Super Tuesday” was the No. 4 program on cable last week, drawing 4 million total viewers. Its 9 and 10 p.m. editions both drew just over 3.8 million, ranking sixth and seventh for the week and finishing ahead of CBS in the latter hour.
Fox News’ top Super Tuesday show, “You Decide,” averaged 3.7 million viewers at 10 p.m., while MSNBC’s No. 1 show that night, airing at 9 p.m., drew 2.3 million viewers.
CNN has been searching for a new identity for years, after seeing Fox News move well ahead in primetime viewership and even MSNBC, with its brash primetime personalities like Keith Olbermann, make inroads among adults 25-54.
Now, with the election, the Time Warner network seems to have found its niche. It combines breaking news coverage, which has always been one of the network’s strengths, with analysis.
More than anything, CNN’s election strategy seems to be one of saturation, with huge chunks of programming devoted to covering the race for the White House.
For example, it launched a new weekend program in early January called “Ballot Bowl,” playing off the college bowl season, offering longer-form pieces explaining candidates’ views on issues and allowing them to talk about them. The series, airing several times per day on Saturday and Sunday, has increased its timeslot averages by 60 percent or more among total viewers and 25-54s, CNN says.
Interestingly, CNN’s success hasn’t come at the other cable news networks’ expense, but rather seems to be drawing more viewers to the news networks. MSNBC saw its Super Tuesday coverage more than quadruple compared with the equivalent night in 2004, and Fox News remains dominant in primetime.
Meanwhile, in other cable ratings for the week ended Feb. 10:
Top five networks in primetime (18-49s): USA, TBS, FX, TNT, A&E
Top five networks in primetime (total viewers): USA, TNT, Fox News Channel, TBS, FX
Top movie (18-49s): TBS’s “The Longest Yard” (Sunday, 5:30 p.m.) 2.02 million
Top sporting event (total viewers): USA’s “WWE Entertainment” (Monday, 9 p.m.) 5.15 million
Shows making the top 10 among 18-34s, 18-49s and 25-54s: USA’s “WWE Entertainment” (Monday, 9 and 10 p.m.); Bravo’s “Project Runway” (Wednesday, 10 p.m.); FX’s “Nip/Tuck” (Tuesday, 10 p.m.).
Show on the rise: FX’s “Nip/Tuck,” Tuesday 10 p.m. FX’s quirky plastic surgery show attracted 2.41 million viewers 18-49 last week, up 16 percent from 2.08 million the previous week.
Show on the decline: MTV’s “Real World/Road Rules Challenge,” Wednesday 10 p.m. While it still finished No. 6 for the week among viewers 18-34, the third edition of “The Gauntlet” fell 12 percent week-to-week in the demo, from 1.48 million viewers to 1.30 million.
|
TOP 25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Ranked on Household Rating
Week Ending February 10 |
|
Rank |
Primetime |
Total Day |
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
USA
|
1927
|
NICK
|
1655
|
|
2
|
TNT
|
1670
|
NAN
*
|
1124
|
|
3
|
FOXN
|
1632
|
TNT
|
1018
|
|
4
|
TBSC
|
1469
|
USA
|
956
|
|
5
|
NAN
|
1316
|
FOXN
|
915
|
|
6
|
AEN
|
1295
|
TBSC
|
885
|
|
7
|
FX
|
1286
|
AEN
|
782
|
|
8
|
CNN
|
1199
|
ADSM*
|
765
|
|
9
|
ESPN
|
1130
|
TOON
|
761
|
|
10
|
LIF
|
1029
|
CNN
|
682
|
|
11
|
SPK
|
1025
|
FX
|
662
|
|
12
|
HIST
|
999
|
LIF
|
658
|
|
13
|
AMC
|
956
|
HIST
|
651
|
|
14
|
HALL
|
945
|
ESPN
|
627
|
|
15
|
HGTV
|
942
|
TRU
|
620
|
|
16
|
TRU
|
942
|
HALL
|
619
|
|
17
|
TOON
|
875
|
SPK
|
579
|
|
18
|
DISC
|
853
|
HGTV
|
555
|
|
19
|
SCIF
|
824
|
DISC
|
551
|
|
20
|
MTV
|
795
|
TVLD
|
524
|
|
21
|
FAM
|
794
|
AMC
|
520
|
|
22
|
CMDY
|
774
|
MTV
|
514
|
|
23
|
TLC
|
753
|
FAM
|
494
|
|
24
|
FOOD
|
662
|
FOOD
|
477
|
|
25
|
MSNB
|
660
|
CMDY
|
463
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Entertainment Research based on data from Nielsen Media Research.
|
|
TOP 25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week Ending February 10 |
|
Rank
|
Program |
Net
|
(000) |
|
1
|
WWE Entertainment
|
USA
|
3509
|
|
2
|
WWE Entertainment
|
USA
|
3399
|
|
3
|
Law & Order
|
TNT
|
2987
|
|
4
|
Election
Center
: Super Tuesday
|
CNN
|
2976
|
|
5
|
Election
Center
: Super Tuesday
|
CNN
|
2958
|
|
6
|
Election
Center
: Super Tuesday
|
CNN
|
2870
|
|
7
|
Spongebob
|
NICK
|
2771
|
|
8
|
You Decide 08 Super Tuesday
|
FOXN
|
2752
|
|
9
|
Zoey 101
|
NICK
|
2728
|
|
10
|
Spongebob
|
NICK
|
2699
|
|
11
|
Law & Order: SVU
|
USA
|
2645
|
|
12
|
Project Runway
|
BRAV
|
2641
|
|
13
|
Nip Tuck
|
FX
|
2569
|
|
14
|
iCarly
|
NICK
|
2563
|
|
15
|
Spongebob
|
NICK
|
2549
|
|
16
|
Spongebob
|
NICK
|
2543
|
|
17
|
Election
Center
: Super Tuesday
|
CNN
|
2528
|
|
18
|
Spongebob
|
NICK
|
2525
|
|
19
|
You Decide 08 Super Tuesday
|
FOXN
|
2518
|
|
20
|
You Decide 08 Super Tuesday
|
FOXN
|
2506
|
|
21
|
Spongebob
|
NICK
|
2497
|
|
22
|
Psych
|
USA
|
2489
|
|
23
|
Law & Order: SVU
|
USA
|
2479
|
|
24
|
Law & Order
|
TNT
|
2475
|
|
25
|
Spongebob
|
NICK
|
2466
|
|
Source: Turner Entertainment Research based on data from Nielsen Media Research.
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Adults 18-34
Week Ending February 10 |
|
Rank |
PRIME TIME |
TOTAL DAY |
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
TBSC
|
691
|
ADSM*
|
384
|
|
2
|
USA
|
584
|
TBSC
|
380
|
|
3
|
MTV
|
515
|
NAN
*
|
336
|
|
4
|
FX
|
499
|
NICK
|
336
|
|
5
|
CMDY
|
430
|
MTV
|
298
|
|
6
|
ESPN
|
427
|
TNT
|
274
|
|
7
|
AEN
|
393
|
FX
|
268
|
|
8
|
VH1
|
386
|
ESPN
|
267
|
|
9
|
TNT
|
378
|
USA
|
259
|
|
10
|
NAN
|
329
|
CMDY
|
253
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Entertainment Research based on data from Nielsen Media Research.
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS
Adults 18-34
Week Ending February 10 |
|
Rank |
PROGRAM |
NET |
(000) |
|
1
|
WWE Entertainment
|
USA
|
1537
|
|
2
|
Rock of Love 2
|
VH1
|
1520
|
|
3
|
Making The Band 4
|
MTV
|
1455
|
|
4
|
Nip Tuck
|
FX
|
1451
|
|
5
|
WWE Entertainment
|
USA
|
1343
|
|
6
|
RW/RR Gauntlet 3
|
MTV
|
1299
|
|
7
|
Family Guy
|
TBSC
|
1282
|
|
8
|
Project Runway
|
BRAV
|
1268
|
|
9
|
Family Guy
|
TBSC
|
1194
|
|
10
|
The Office
|
TBSC
|
1168
|
|
Source: Turner Entertainment Research based on data from Nielsen Media Research.
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Adults 18-49
Week Ending February 10 |
|
Rank |
PRIME TIME |
TOTAL DAY |
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
USA
|
1164
|
TBSC
|
669
|
|
2
|
TBSC
|
1154
|
TNT
|
623
|
|
3
|
FX
|
973
|
NAN
*
|
567
|
|
4
|
TNT
|
973
|
NICK
|
553
|
|
5
|
AEN
|
863
|
USA
|
533
|
|
6
|
ESPN
|
758
|
FX
|
504
|
|
7
|
MTV
|
661
|
ADSM*
|
477
|
|
8
|
AMC
|
657
|
AEN
|
455
|
|
9
|
SPK
|
641
|
ESPN
|
441
|
|
10
|
CMDY
|
625
|
DISC
|
386
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Entertainment Research based on data from Nielsen Media Research.
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS
Adults 18-49
Week Ending February 10 |
|
Rank |
PROGRAM |
NET |
(000) |
|
1
|
WWE Entertainment
|
USA
|
2649
|
|
2
|
WWE Entertainment
|
USA
|
2462
|
|
3
|
Nip Tuck
|
FX
|
2411
|
|
4
|
Project Runway
|
BRAV
|
2368
|
|
5
|
Rock of Love 2
|
VH1
|
2206
|
|
6
|
The Longest Yard
|
TBSC
|
2022
|
|
7
|
Election
Center
: Super Tuesday
|
CNN
|
1901
|
|
8
|
Intervention
|
AEN
|
1825
|
|
9
|
Making The Band 4
|
MTV
|
1717
|
|
10
|
Rush Hour 2
|
TBSC
|
1700
|
|
Source: Turner Entertainment Research based on data from Nielsen Media Research.
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Adults 25-54
Week Ending February 10 |
|
|
PRIME TIME |
TOTAL DAY |
|
Rank
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1
|
USA
|
1144
|
TNT
|
637
|
|
2
|
TNT
|
1021
|
TBSC
|
562
|
|
3
|
TBSC
|
968
|
USA
|
543
|
|
4
|
AEN
|
891
|
AEN
|
477
|
|
5
|
FX
|
863
|
NICK
|
459
|
|
6
|
AMC
|
695
|
NAN
*
|
443
|
|
7
|
ESPN
|
681
|
FX
|
437
|
|
8
|
SPK
|
626
|
HIST
|
392
|
|
9
|
HIST
|
613
|
ESPN
|
374
|
|
10
|
SCIF
|
607
|
TRU
|
356
|
|
* Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Entertainment Research based on data from Nielsen Media Research.
|
|
TOP 10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS
Adults 25-54
Week Ending February 10 |
|
Rank |
PROGRAM |
NET |
(000) |
|
1
|
WWE Entertainment
|
USA
|
2330
|
|
2
|
WWE Entertainment
|
USA
|
2235
|
|
3
|
Project Runway
|
BRAV
|
2182
|
|
4
|
Election
Center
: Super Tuesday
|
CNN
|
1897
|
|
5
|
Nip Tuck
|
FX
|
1845
|
|
6
|
Psych
|
USA
|
1842
|
|
7
|
The Longest Yard
|
TBSC
|
1726
|
|
8
|
Saving Private Ryan
|
TNT
|
1690
|
|
9
|
Election
Center
: Super Tuesday
|
CNN
|
1688
|
|
10
|
Intervention
|
AEN
|
1688
|
|
Source: Turner Entertainment Research based on data from Nielsen Media Research.
|
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