For the first time since it lost wrestling, USA Network hit No. 1 in the
monthly primetime ratings, for February, according to Nielsen Media Research
data released Tuesday.
USA tied with TBS Superstation for the top ranking, each posting a 2.0. USA
was down from a 2.4 a year ago, a 17 percent drop from when the network still
had the World Wrestling Federation, while TBS was up from a 1.7 a year ago, an
18 percent increase.
But even though USA saw its numbers drop from a year ago, February marks the
first time it has been No. 1 in primetime since September, when it lost
wrestling to TNN: The National Network and MTV: Music Television.
After USA and TBS, Lifetime Television posted a 1.9 primetime rating, up from
1.5 a year ago, a 27 percent gain. Lifetime enjoyed its highest February ever in
both primetime and total day. Cartoon Network had a strong February, garnering a
1.7 rating, up from 1.6 a year ago.
Nickelodeon and Turner Network Television each did 1.5 primetime ratings.
Nick was down from a 1.7 a year ago, while TNT was flat.
A&E Network and Discovery Channel tied with 1.3 ratings.
TNN, boosted by the WWF, was up 57 percent in February, to a 1.1 from a
0.7.
Among all-news channels in February, Fox News Channel was No. 1 in primetime
with a 0.9 rating, followed by Cable News Network with a 0.8 and MSNBC with a
0.4.
