Millions of Americans cheered the breaking news of Saddam Hussein’s capture, but nobody cheered harder than the cable news networks, which received a much-needed ratings surge from Sunday’s ongoing coverage.
  Fox News drew the most total viewers and adults 25-54 for the day, but CNN claimed the highest-rated news programs among both demos and the biggest growth over the current fourth quarter average.
   That’s a welcome break for the Time Warner news network, which struggled through November, sliding 13 percent in total viewers and 3 percent in adults 25-54 over last year.
   CNN was the first to break the story at 5:03 a.m. Eastern time, followed shortly by ABC and CBS, then MSNBC at 5:17 a.m., Fox News at 5:27 a.m. and NBC at 5:52 a.m.
   Viewership peaked by early afternoon, although the networks continued their coverage of the story throughout the day.
   CNN averaged 2.22 million total viewers and 1.02 million adults 25-54 for the day on Sunday, an increase of 489 percent and 625 percent over the network’s current quarterly average. It also bested the other cable news networks for top program among total viewers and adults 25-54.
  “Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer” drew 5.25 million viewers between noon and 1 p.m., second for the week on cable to the Giants and Saints NFL game on ESPN Sunday night.
  Among adults 25-54, “Late Edition” ranked fifth with 2.57 million viewers and was the second-highest news program among the demo to “CNN Sunday” immediately preceding it at 11:30 a.m., with 2.60 million viewers.
   Fox News averaged 2.60 million total viewers on Sunday, up 365 percent over the network’s fourth-quarter average. FNC was up more than 460 percent among adults 25-54 with 1.08 million viewers. Fox News also posted half of the top 10 programs among total viewers and three among adults 25-54.
   MSNBC, which was down 20 percent among total viewers and 28 percent among 25-54s year to year in November, recorded huge growth over its quarterly average for Sunday. The network posted gains of 267 percent with 737,000 total viewers and grew 315 percent among adults 25-54 with 415,000 viewers.
   In other cable ratings news, a holiday episode of “Powerpuff Girls” delivered Cartoon Network’s highest 2003 ratings among kids 6-11. “Twas the Fight Before Christmas” aired at 9 p.m. on Friday and drew a 4.0 rating. 
   TNT is posting ratings gains over last year with its NBA lineup. After 16 games, the network is up 47 percent among adults 18-49 to 1.07 million viewers and up 55 percent among adults 25-54 to 1 million viewers. 
   Despite the talk of fleeing young male viewership on television, NBA on TNT has improved on every male demo this year. Games are up 48 percent for men 18-34, 55 percent among men 18-49, and 61 percent among men 25-54.