Lifetime Television nipped TBS Superstation and ESPN for basic-cable's
primetime-ratings laurels last week.
The women's-targeted channel averaged a 2.0 in primetime Nov. 5 through 11,
eking out a 0.1-point win over the general-entertainment service and the total
sports network. According to a Turner Entertainment Research analysis of Nielsen
Media Research data, Turner Network Television placed fourth with a 1.8, while
USA Network finished fifth last week with a 1.7.
Kids' rivals Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network were knotted in sixth, each with
a 1.6, in front of news competitors Fox News Channel and Cable News Network,
which registered a 1.4 and a 1.1, respectively. Rounding out the top 10:
Discovery Channel and A&E Network with a 1.0 average apiece.
On a total-day basis, perennial champ Nick led the way with a 1.4, ahead of
Lifetime (1.2), TBS and Cartoon (1.1 apiece). According to the Turner analysis,
there was a four-way tie for fifth at an 0.8 among TNT, CNN, USA and FNC.
Among the adult 18-through-49 and 25-through-54 demos coveted by advertisers,
TBS was tops in both primetime and total-day measurements.
Fueled by a double dip of action theatrical Lethal Weapon 4 Nov. 11,
TBS averaged 1.38 million 18-through-49 viewers and 1.31 million 25-through-54
watchers in primetime last week. Gauged on a 24-hour basis, TBS scored, on
average, with 677,000 of the younger group and 653,000 of the older set.
Lethal Weapon 4 produced a 4.0 household average from 8 p.m. to 10:30
p.m. Sunday to rank as basic cable's second-highest-rated show for the week
overall, while the encore edition immediately following was ninth, tied with
Nick's SpongeBob SquarePants (10 a.m. Nov. 11), Cartoon anime powerhouse
Dragon Ball Z (Nov. 8 at 6 p.m.) and WGN's presentation of Pretty
Woman (Nov. 11 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.), all with a 3.0.
ESPN's National Football League coverage of the Seattle Seahawks' 34-27 win
over the Oakland Raiders Sunday night was the medium's highest-rated show with a
6.7 average. TNN: The National Network's showing of World Wrestling Federation
Entertainment Inc. fare Nov. 5 from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. and in the preceding hour
were third and fourth, garnering a 3.8 and 3.4, respectively.
ESPN's NFL PrimeTime recap show Sunday placed fifth with a 3.4, while
its signature SportsCenter later that night tied Dragon Ball Z
(Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.) for seventh with a 3.1 FNC's coverage of President Bush's
speech Nov. 8 from 8:32 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. was sixth at a 3.2.
