Even with TNT adding two additional nights of programming and top 10 channels such as FX, A&E and ABC Family seeing year-to-year growth, USA easily won its 13th straight quarter among basic cable networks.
The NBC Universal channel was up 21 percent year-to-year in primetime among total viewers, averaging 3.45 million, more than a million better than the No. 2 network, TNT, according to Nielsen live-plus-seven-day-DVR-playback data.
USA also placed first during third quarter among adults 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, with ESPN placing second in the latter two demographics.
USA got a big boost from its original programming.
Drama "Burn Notice" had the biggest audience for any scripted cable show during the quarter, averaging 9.1 million total viewers for its Aug. 6 finale.
New comedy "Royal Pains" also placed three shows in the quarterly top 25 among total viewers and four in the top 20 among 18-49s.
MTV's "Video Music Awards" made the top five among all the major adult demos and was the quarter's No. 5 show overall.
ESPN's "Monday Night Football" accounted for the top three shows among total viewers.
TNT placed third among 18-49s and 25-54s in primetime. The network debuted a slate of original programming on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, in addition to its traditional Monday lineup.
The change had little effect on TNT's ratings. The network was essentially flat, down 1 percent in total viewers and up 1 percent in 18-49s and 25-54s.
Food Network had the biggest jump of any top-10 network among 18-49s, growing 32 percent over last summer. FX had the second-biggest jump, up 10 percent.
Only two top 10 networks, TNT and TBS, saw declines in total viewers.
In total-day programming, Nickelodeon finished first among total viewers with an average 2.18 million. Adult Swim won among 18-34s and 18-49s, while USA took first among 25-54s.
TOP
25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS Ranked
on Household Rating
Third Quarter 2009
Rank
Primetime
Total Day
Net
(000)
Net
(000)
1
USA
2573
NICK
1668
2
TNT
1791
NAN
*
1264
3
ESPN
1751
USA
1227
4
FOXN
1738
TNT
1027
5
NAN
1393
FOXN
1002
6
TBSC
1193
ADSM*
957
7
AEN
1095
TOON
828
8
HGTV
1092
ESPN
817
9
LIF
1031
TBSC
715
10
SYFY
993
AEN
622
11
FX
975
LIF
605
12
FAM
971
HIST
584
13
HIST
940
FOOD
582
14
FOOD
911
TRU
575
15
TOON
896
FX
566
16
DISC
889
HGTV
564
17
TLC
852
DISC
550
18
HALL
791
CNN
516
19
TRU
789
FAM
512
20
CNN
772
SPK
502
21
AMC
739
HALL
472
22
SPK
721
SYFY
450
23
CMDY
705
TLC
446
24
BRAV
664
TVLD
446
25
MTV
659
AMC
442
*
Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
TOP
25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE PROGRAMS Ranked
on Households
Third Quarter 2009
Rank
Program
Net
(000)
1
Colts/Dolphins
ESPN
10849
2
Bills/Patriots
ESPN
10224
3
Chargers/Raiders
ESPN
8774
4
College Football-Saturday Prime
ESPN
7270
5
The Closer
TNT
6316
6
Burn Notice
USA
6243
7
The Closer
TNT
6217
8
The Closer
TNT
6173
9
2009 Video Music Awards
MTV
6061
10
The Closer
TNT
6059
11
The Closer
TNT
6036
12
Vikings/Texans
ESPN
5954
13
2009 State Farm Home Run
Derby
ESPN
5875
14
Miami/Florida State
ESPN
5831
15
The Closer
TNT
5797
16
Royal Pains
USA
5774
17
Burn Notice
USA
5676
18
The Closer
TNT
5647
19
Burn Notice
USA
5626
20
Burn Notice
USA
5624
21
Royal Pains
USA
5574
22
The Closer
TNT
5507
23
iCarly Movie: Shelby Marx
NICK
5500
24
Royal Pains
USA
5464
25
Royal Pains
USA
5445
Source:
Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
TOP
10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS Adults
18-34
Third Quarter 2009
Rank
PRIME TIME
TOTAL DAY
Net
(000)
Net
(000)
1
USA
570
ADSM*
453
2
TBSC
533
NAN
*
346
3
ESPN
517
NICK
336
4
MTV
410
TBSC
300
5
FX
378
ESPN
291
6
TNT
365
USA
262
7
FAM
341
TNT
244
8
CMDY
328
MTV
235
9
NAN
312
FX
220
10
AEN
307
CMDY
207
*
Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
TOP
10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS Adults
18-34 Third
Quarter 2009
Rank
PROGRAM
NET
(000)
1
2009 Video Music Awards
MTV
4446
2
Chargers/Raiders
ESPN
3900
3
Colts/Dolphins
ESPN
3887
4
2009 VMA Postshow
MTV
3812
5
Bills/Patriots
ESPN
3771
6
College Football-Saturday Prime
ESPN
2517
7
2009 State Farm Home Run
Derby
ESPN
2119
8
Miami/Florida State
ESPN
2096
9
The Ultimate Fighter
SPK
2083
10
Vikings/Texans
ESPN
1988
Source:
Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
TOP
10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS Adults
18-49 Third Quarter 2009
Rank
PRIME TIME
TOTAL DAY
Net
(000)
Net
(000)
1
USA
1346
ADSM*
624
2
ESPN
1106
USA
620
3
TNT
961
NAN
*
603
4
TBSC
954
TNT
584
5
FX
747
ESPN
554
6
AEN
697
NICK
538
7
DISC
660
TBSC
538
8
SYFY
628
FX
415
9
FAM
617
DISC
375
10
FOOD
610
AEN
368
*
Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
TOP
10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS Adults
18-49
Third Quarter 2009
Rank
PROGRAM
NET
(000)
1
Colts/Dolphins
ESPN
7783
2
Bills/Patriots
ESPN
7739
3
Chargers/Raiders
ESPN
7535
4
2009 Video Music Awards
MTV
6338
5
2009 VMA Postshow
MTV
5359
6
College Football-Saturday Prime
ESPN
5293
7
2009 State Farm Home Run
Derby
ESPN
4285
8
Miami/Florida State
ESPN
4146
9
Vikings/Texans
ESPN
4012
10
Burn Notice
USA
3762
Source:
Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
TOP
10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS Adults
25-54
Third Quarter 2009
PRIME TIME
TOTAL DAY
Rank
Net
(000)
Net
(000)
1
USA
1545
USA
692
2
ESPN
1126
TNT
628
3
TNT
1106
ESPN
512
4
TBSC
828
NAN
*
496
5
SYFY
726
TBSC
466
6
AEN
724
NICK
432
7
FX
700
ADSM*
425
8
DISC
659
AEN
381
9
FOOD
642
FX
372
10
HIST
630
DISC
366
*
Network broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24-hour day.
Source: Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
TOP
10 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE SHOWS Adults
25-54 Third
Quarter 2009
Rank
PROGRAM
NET
(000)
1
Colts/Dolphins
ESPN
7521
2
Bills/Patriots
ESPN
7408
3
Chargers/Raiders
ESPN
7014
4
College Football-Saturday Prime
ESPN
5366
5
2009 Video Music Awards
MTV
4495
6
Burn Notice
USA
4407
7
2009 State Farm Home Run
Derby
ESPN
4226
8
Miami/Florida State
ESPN
4124
9
Burn Notice
USA
4079
10
Vikings/Texans
ESPN
4045
Source:
Turner Research from Nielsen Media Research data
