BY ANDREA FIGLER ESPN has the most overall value of all cable networks when it comes to local ad sales, according to data that will be released this week in the Jack Myers Report. Of the 150 cable operator executives surveyed by Myers, 83% rated ESPN good, very good or excellent in terms of how the sports network contributes to local ad sales revenue. The Discovery Channel ranked second in its contribution to local ad sales. CNN came in third, although Fox News ranked higher with the independent cable operators surveyed. Rounding out the top 15 highly rated networks for local ad sales revenue are, in descending order, Lifetime, Nickelodeon, USA Network, Fox News, A&E, ESPN II, TBS, Fox Sports, TNT, HGTV, MTV and the Weather Channel. Local ad sales ranked fifth among cable operators in terms of system revenue growth, after digital upgrades but before video-on-demand, Myers told Cable World. Of the total respondents, 64% ranked local ad sales as good, very good or excellent in terms of system revenue growth. Among larger MSOs with 250,000 or more subscribers, however, 77% rated local ad sales in the top category. High-speed cable modem service was the top category in terms of system revenue growth, Myers said. The Myers survey asked cable operators to rate more than 60 cable networks on their value in four categories: contribution to new subscriber acquisitions, contribution to reducing churn, contribution to digital upgrades and contribution to local ad sales. Jack Myers, chief economist for the report, released data on the three former categories last week; he plans to provide local ad sales information on the top ranking networks this week.

The Daily

Subscribe

DISH-DirecTV Merger Off

We are once again not in the year of a DISH-DirecTV merger.

Read the Full Issue
The Skinny is delivered on Tuesday and focuses on the cable profession. You'll stay in the know on the headlines, topics and special issues you value most. Sign Up

Calendar

Dec 4
2024 Most Powerful Women Awards Nominations Open July 8th, 2024.
Apr 16
Cablefax 100 Awards Nominations Open November 13th, 2024.
Full Calendar

Jobs

Seeking an INDUSTRY JOB or hiring for one?
VIEW JOBS

In conjunction with our sister brand, Cynopsis, we are offering hiring managers a deep pool of media-savvy, skilled candidates at a range of experience levels and sectors. The result will be an even more robust industry job board, to help both employers and job seekers.

Contact Carley Ashley, [email protected], for more information about posting a job on the website and our Jobs newsletter, sent twice weekly to 85,000 media professionals.