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You might think from the loud buzz garnered by
cable shows like Bravo’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” and TLC’s
“Trading Spaces" that it was a year of redecoration on cable.
Wrong. It was ESPN’s football coverage that dominated
cable in
2003.
ESPN had at least seven of the top 10 cable
programs among total viewers, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 for the year,
according to Nielsen numbers released this week by Turner Networks.
The
network improved its average NFL household delivery 4 percent over 2002,
to a 7.7 rating, and dominated all but one of the top 10 programs.
That helped ESPN to a 6 percent gain in
household ratings over 2002. The network also improved its total viewing
audience 3 percent, adults 18-49 went up 2 percent, and adults 25-54
notched up a modest 1 percent.
The Nov. 16 game between the Cowboys and Patriots
was the No. 1 cable program for the year, drawing more than 11.7 million
total viewers and 8.4 million households. Among adult demos, the Sept. 7
Raiders and Titans game was the top match-up of the year.
Year-long gains weren't just from football.
The
network also saw audience growth in NCAA basketball and fourth quarter NBA
coverage. NCAA games are up 38 percent so far, from a 0.8 to a 1.1
household rating, and NBA games are up 15 percent, from a 1.3 to a 1.5
rating.
ESPN also got a boost earlier in the fall when
October’s baseball division series coverage averaged a 3.9 household
rating for nine telecasts.
TNT squeezed into the top 10 among total viewers,
households and adults 18-49 with its February broadcast of the NBA
All-star game but failed to make the top 10 among 25-54s. Even without all
the sports coverage, TNT retained its hold as the No. 1 network among
total viewers, households and 18-49s.
The only non-sports program to crack the top 10
programs among total viewers last year was the Aug. 28 broadcast of MTV’s
“Video Music Awards,” which drew 10.7 million viewers. The awards
special was also the No. 1 cable show among 18-34s and 18-49s and led MTV
to a No. 1 finish among 18-34s.
Although it seemed like “Trading Spaces” and
its copycat remodeling shows dominated much of the year’s cable
programs, only a one-time special placed in the top 10 programs for the
year. Among key adult demos – 18-34, 18-49, and 25-54 – TLC performed
well with its first ever $100,000 “Trading Spaces” special. The show
ranked eighth among 18-34s and 25-54s and tenth among 18-49s.
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TOP 20
AD-SUPPORTED CABLE PROGRAMS
TOTAL
YEAR 2003 (12/30/2002 - 12/28/2003) |
|
Rank |
Program |
Date |
Network |
2+ (000) |
|
1 |
Cowboys/Patriots |
11/16/03 |
ESPN |
11715 |
|
2 |
Packers/Vikings |
11/2/03 |
ESPN |
10991 |
|
3 |
Broncos/Colts |
12/21/03 |
ESPN |
10979 |
|
4 |
NBA All-Star Game |
2/9/03 |
TNT |
10829 |
|
5 |
Raiders/Titans |
9/7/03 |
ESPN |
10795 |
|
6 |
2003 Video Music Awards |
8/28/03 |
MTV |
10712 |
|
7 |
Bears/Vikings |
9/14/03 |
ESPN |
10672 |
|
8 |
Bills/Dolphins |
9/21/03 |
ESPN |
10530 |
|
9 |
Steelers/Ravens |
12/28/03 |
ESPN |
10418 |
|
10 |
Redskins/Dolphins |
11/23/03 |
ESPN |
9661 |
|
11 |
Ravens/Rams |
11/9/03 |
ESPN |
9436 |
|
12 |
Bills/Chiefs |
10/26/03 |
ESPN |
9201 |
|
13 |
Trading Spaces:100 Grand |
10/5/03 |
TLC |
9124 |
|
14 |
Panthers/Falcons |
12/7/03 |
ESPN |
8898 |
|
15 |
49Ers/Seahawks |
10/12/03 |
ESPN |
8895 |
|
16 |
Buccaneers/Jaguars |
11/30/03 |
ESPN |
8810 |
|
17 |
SR/Iraq-Military Action |
3/19/03 |
FOXN |
8595 |
|
18 |
SR/Iraq-Military Action |
3/19/03 |
FOXN |
8495 |
|
19 |
Braves/Cubs |
10/3/03 |
ESPN |
8126 |
|
20 |
Colts/Saints |
9/28/03 |
ESPN |
7855 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank |
Program |
Date |
Network |
A18-49 (000) |
|
1 |
2003 Video Music Awards |
8/28/03 |
MTV |
7043 |
|
2 |
Raiders/Titans |
9/7/03 |
ESPN |
6653 |
|
3 |
Bears/Vikings |
9/14/03 |
ESPN |
6315 |
|
4 |
Cowboys/Patriots |
11/16/03 |
ESPN |
6271 |
|
5 |
Bills/Dolphins |
9/21/03 |
ESPN |
6240 |
|
6 |
Packers/Vikings |
11/2/03 |
ESPN |
6215 |
|
7 |
Steelers/Ravens |
12/28/03 |
ESPN |
6125 |
|
8 |
Broncos/Colts |
12/21/03 |
ESPN |
6013 |
|
9 |
NBA All-Star Game |
2/9/03 |
TNT |
6000 |
|
10 |
Trading Spaces:100 Grand |
10/5/03 |
TLC |
5682 |
|
11 |
Redskins/Dolphins |
11/23/03 |
ESPN |
5443 |
|
12 |
Ravens/Rams |
11/9/03 |
ESPN |
5346 |
|
13 |
Buccaneers/Jaguars |
11/30/03 |
ESPN |
5234 |
|
14 |
Panthers/Falcons |
12/7/03 |
ESPN |
5061 |
|
15 |
Bills/Chiefs |
10/26/03 |
ESPN |
5043 |
|
16 |
49Ers/Seahawks |
10/12/03 |
ESPN |
5024 |
|
17 |
2003 Allstar Post Game |
2/9/03 |
TNT |
4741 |
|
18 |
Colts/Saints |
9/28/03 |
ESPN |
4620 |
|
19 |
Lakers/Spurs |
5/13/03 |
TNT |
4518 |
|
20 |
2003 NBA Allstar Pregame |
2/9/03 |
TNT |
4445 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank |
Program |
Date |
Network |
A18-34 (000) |
|
1 |
2003 Video Music Awards |
8/28/03 |
MTV |
4904 |
|
2 |
NBA All-Star Game |
2/9/03 |
TNT |
3310 |
|
3 |
Raiders/Titans |
9/7/03 |
ESPN |
3208 |
|
4 |
2003 Movie Awards |
6/5/03 |
MTV |
3158 |
|
5 |
Bears/Vikings |
9/14/03 |
ESPN |
3054 |
|
6 |
Osbournes |
1/28/03 |
MTV |
2780 |
|
7 |
2003 VMA Post Show |
8/28/03 |
MTV |
2752 |
|
8 |
Trading Spaces:100 Grand |
10/5/03 |
TLC |
2729 |
|
9 |
Bills/Dolphins |
9/21/03 |
ESPN |
2724 |
|
10 |
Steelers/Ravens |
12/28/03 |
ESPN |
2640 |
|
11 |
2003 Allstar Post Game |
2/9/03 |
TNT |
2592 |
|
12 |
Real World XII |
1/28/03 |
MTV |
2524 |
|
13 |
Cowboys/Patriots |
11/16/03 |
ESPN |
2481 |
|
14 |
Packers/Vikings |
11/2/03 |
ESPN |
2447 |
|
15 |
Osbournes |
2/4/03 |
MTV |
2436 |
|
16 |
2003 NBA Allstar Pregame |
2/9/03 |
TNT |
2414 |
|
17 |
Osbournes |
2/11/03 |
MTV |
2374 |
|
18 |
Broncos/Colts |
12/21/03 |
ESPN |
2358 |
|
19 |
Real World XII |
1/7/03 |
MTV |
2330 |
|
20 |
Real World XII |
1/14/03 |
MTV |
2316 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank |
Program |
Date |
Network |
A25-54 (000) |
|
1 |
Raiders/Titans |
9/7/03 |
ESPN |
6651 |
|
2 |
Cowboys/Patriots |
11/16/03 |
ESPN |
6641 |
|
3 |
Packers/Vikings |
11/2/03 |
ESPN |
6433 |
|
4 |
Bills/Dolphins |
9/21/03 |
ESPN |
6375 |
|
5 |
Steelers/Ravens |
12/28/03 |
ESPN |
6248 |
|
6 |
Bears/Vikings |
9/14/03 |
ESPN |
6237 |
|
7 |
Broncos/Colts |
12/21/03 |
ESPN |
6143 |
|
8 |
Trading Spaces:100 Grand |
10/5/03 |
TLC |
5944 |
|
9 |
Redskins/Dolphins |
11/23/03 |
ESPN |
5826 |
|
10 |
Ravens/Rams |
11/9/03 |
ESPN |
5460 |
|
11 |
Buccaneers/Jaguars |
11/30/03 |
ESPN |
5392 |
|
12 |
NBA All-Star Game |
2/9/03 |
TNT |
5332 |
|
13 |
Bills/Chiefs |
10/26/03 |
ESPN |
5261 |
|
14 |
2003 Video Music Awards |
8/28/03 |
MTV |
5250 |
|
15 |
49Ers/Seahawks |
10/12/03 |
ESPN |
5130 |
|
16 |
Panthers/Falcons |
12/7/03 |
ESPN |
5083 |
|
17 |
Colts/Saints |
9/28/03 |
ESPN |
4592 |
|
18 |
2003 Allstar Post Game |
2/9/03 |
TNT |
4261 |
|
19 |
Browns/Steelers |
10/5/03 |
ESPN |
4198 |
|
20 |
Trading Spaces |
1/18/03 |
TLC |
4191 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank |
Program |
Date |
Network |
HH (000) |
|
1 |
Cowboys/Patriots |
11/16/03 |
ESPN |
8447 |
|
2 |
Packers/Vikings |
11/2/03 |
ESPN |
8026 |
|
3 |
Bills/Dolphins |
9/21/03 |
ESPN |
7867 |
|
4 |
Raiders/Titans |
9/7/03 |
ESPN |
7779 |
|
5 |
Broncos/Colts |
12/21/03 |
ESPN |
7695 |
|
6 |
Bears/Vikings |
9/14/03 |
ESPN |
7584 |
|
7 |
Steelers/Ravens |
12/28/03 |
ESPN |
7294 |
|
8 |
Redskins/Dolphins |
11/23/03 |
ESPN |
7145 |
|
9 |
NBA All-Star Game |
2/9/03 |
TNT |
7092 |
|
10 |
Ravens/Rams |
11/9/03 |
ESPN |
7080 |
|
11 |
2003 Video Music Awards |
8/28/03 |
MTV |
6871 |
|
12 |
Bills/Chiefs |
10/26/03 |
ESPN |
6867 |
|
13 |
49Ers/Seahawks |
10/12/03 |
ESPN |
6839 |
|
14 |
Panthers/Falcons |
12/7/03 |
ESPN |
6796 |
|
15 |
Buccaneers/Jaguars |
11/30/03 |
ESPN |
6558 |
|
16 |
Trading Spaces:100 Grand |
10/5/03 |
TLC |
6083 |
|
17 |
Colts/Saints |
9/28/03 |
ESPN |
6031 |
|
18 |
SR/Iraq-Military Action |
3/19/03 |
FOXN |
5946 |
|
19 |
Braves/Cubs |
10/3/03 |
ESPN |
5901 |
|
20 |
SR/Iraq-Military Action |
3/19/03 |
FOXN |
5898 |
|
Source: Turner Entertainment Research based on data from Nielsen
Media Research.
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TOP 25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETWORKS
Ranked on Household Rating
Week Ending Jan
4, 2004
|
|
Rank |
Primetime |
Total Day |
|
Net |
(000) |
Net |
(000) |
|
1 |
ESPN |
2002 |
NICK |
1504 |
|
2 |
USA |
1883 |
ESPN |
1138 |
|
3 |
NICK |
1718 |
LIF |
1069 |
|
4 |
TNT |
1599 |
TNT |
1035 |
|
5 |
TBSC |
1590 |
USA |
1033 |
|
5 |
LIF |
1435 |
TOON |
991 |
|
7 |
TOON |
1141 |
TBSC |
972 |
|
8 |
DISC |
1052 |
MTV |
679 |
|
9 |
AEN |
974 |
FOXN |
652 |
|
10 |
TLC |
930 |
AEN |
622 |
|
11 |
SCIF |
910 |
HIST |
581 |
|
12 |
SPK |
874 |
TLC |
571 |
|
13 |
FX |
868 |
DISC |
547 |
|
14 |
MTV |
834 |
SPK |
535 |
|
15 |
HIST |
827 |
FAM |
506 |
|
16 |
AMC |
813 |
HGTV |
504 |
|
17 |
FOXN |
788 |
SCIF |
492 |
|
18 |
HGTV |
725 |
AMC |
483 |
|
19 |
FAM |
723 |
FX |
482 |
|
20 |
CORT |
620 |
CMDY |
430 |
|
21 |
CMDY |
606 |
CNN |
396 |
|
22 |
CNN |
589 |
TVLD |
388 |
|
23 |
TVLD |
527 |
FOOD |
385 |
|
24 |
BET |
526 |
VH1 |
367 |
|
25 |
FOOD |
505 |
CORT |
365 |
|
Source: Turner
Entertainment Research based on data from Nielsen Media Research.
|
|
TOP 25 AD-SUPPORTED CABLE PROGRAMS
Ranked on Households
Week
Ending Jan 4, 2004
|
|
Rank |
Program |
Net |
(000) |
|
1 |
Holiday Bowl |
ESPN |
4300 |
|
2 |
Outback-Bowl |
ESPN |
4000 |
|
3 |
Alamo Bowl |
ESPN |
3724 |
|
4 |
Peach Bowl |
ESPN |
3557 |
|
5 |
WWE Entertainment |
SPK |
3418 |
|
6 |
Independence Bowl |
ESPN |
3234 |
|
7 |
WWE Entertainment |
SPK |
3025 |
|
8 |
Law & Order: SVU |
USA |
2760 |
|
9 |
Law & Order |
TNT |
2740 |
|
10 |
Wild Wild West |
TBSC |
2734 |
|
11 |
Spongebob |
NICK |
2725 |
|
12 |
Law & Order: SVU |
USA |
2591 |
|
13 |
All Grown Up |
NICK |
2583 |
|
14 |
Fairly Odd Parents |
NICK |
2579 |
|
15 |
Rose Parade 2004 |
HGTV |
2575 |
|
16 |
Law & Order: SVU |
USA |
2546 |
|
17 |
Spongebob |
NICK |
2525 |
|
18 |
Fairly Odd Parents |
NICK |
2522 |
|
19 |
Spongebob |
NICK |
2473 |
|
20 |
Spongebob |
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