AD-SUPPORTED CABLE NETS SCORE RECORD PRIME-TIME SHARE

BY SHIRLEY BRADY Ad-supported cable networks achieved a record high prime-time share of 55.0 in the last week of June (June 23-29), an average prime-time share of 53.7 for the month and 51.2 for the second quarter, according to the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau. Networks continued to proclaim their second quarter and June highlights last week. TNT officially seized top spot for the quarter, followed by Fox News Channel. Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Lifetime tied for third place, followed by Cartoon Network, USA, TBS, CNN, ESPN, A&E and TLC in the top ten. Some highlights: A&E dubbed June its most-watched month of the year; Animal Planet posted ratings highs in Q2; Cartoon was No. 1 in prime time for the quarter with kids 6 to 11 and 2 to 11; Comedy Central’s Q2 was its second-highest prime time in the network’s history; Discovery’s Walking With Cavemen (June 15) was the highest-rated documentary on cable for the year; Disney Channel ranked No. 1 in prime time with tweens (versus all basic cable nets) for the 16th consecutive quarter; Fox News commanded 51% of the prime-time cable news audience in June and touted its 18th consecutive month as the No. 1 cable news channel; in Q2 History Channel had its highest-rated show (Russia, with a 3.0) ever; MSNBC said it beat CNN in prime time and total-day audience growth in Q2; the June 26 launch of TNN’s new block “The Strip” reached 2 million viewers for Stripperella; TNT’s Caesar miniseries grossed 5.7 rating points over its two nights and 6.7 million viewers 2+; VH1 grew its total-day ratings 100%; TLC’s Trading Spaces was the No. 1 regularly scheduled prime-time cable show on Saturday nights for the sixth consecutive month; and Travel Channel ratings grew 41% in prime time for June. Networks claiming their best-ever Q2 overall or for key demos included Court TV, E!, ESPN, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, MTV and Sci Fi.