USA Network finished the first full month of summer the way it began the period -- as the most-watched basic network on cable.
USA topped the summer 2010 cable network ratings charts for the fourth week in a row, averaging 3.5 million viewers and easily besting Disney Channel's second place finish of 2.7 million viewers for the week of June 21 to June 27, according to a Disney-ABC Television Group analysis of Nielsen data.
USA and Disney Channel also finished first and second respectively among the most watched cable networks during the month of June, according to Nielsen.
TNT, bolstered by new season launches of its drama series HawthoRNe and Memphis Beat, finished third for the week with 2.2 million viewers, followed by Fox News with 1.9 million watchers.
BET entered the top 10 for the first time this summer, finishing in fifth place with 1.7 million viewers on the strength of its BET Awards '10 special, which was the most watched show of the week with 7.3 million viewers.
The next five networks on the top 10 list include Nick at Nite, History and ESPN (tied with 1.5 million viewers); Discovery Channel (1.4 million) and TBS (1.3 million).
Nickelodeon's June 4 movie/special iCarly: Psycho was the most watched show for the month of June, averaging 8.2 million viewers -- slightly ahead of USA Network's June 3 season premiere of Burn Notice and Disney Channel's June 12 airing of the animated film Toy Story 3, both of which averaged 8.1 million viewers.
Top 10 Most Watched Shows For The Week*:
Date Program
Network Viewers
6/27
BET Awards '10
BET 7.3
million
6/25 16
Wishes
Disney 5.6 million
6/23 World Cup
Soccer (USA/Algeria) ESPN
5.3 million
6/21 Pawn Stars
History 5.3 million
6/21
WWE Entertainment
USA 5.3 million
6/21 Pawn
Stars History
5.3 million
6/22 Deadliest
Catch
Discovery 5.3 million
6/24 Burn
Notice
USA 5.3 million
6/24 Royal
Pains
USA 5.2 million
6/27
NASCAR Post Race Show
TNT 5.1 million
*Week of
June 21 to June 27, 2010
SOURCE: Disney-ABC Television Group analysis
of Nielsen data.
Top 10 Most Watched Shows For June*:
Date Program
Network Viewers
6/4 iCarly Movie: iPsycho Nickelodeon 8.2
million
6/3 Burn Notice USA 8.1 million
6/12 Toy Story 2 Disney 8.1 million
6/3 Royal Pains
USA 7.6 million
6/10 Royal Pains
USA 7.4 million
6/27 BET Awards '10 BET
7.3 million
6/4 Victorious Nickelodeon 6.4 million
6/7 Pawn Stars History 6.0 million
6/7 Pawn Stars History 5.9 million
6/14 Pawn Stars History 5.9 million
6/25 16 Wishes Disney 5.6 million
*Week of May 31 to June 27, 2010
SOURCE: Disney-ABC Television Group analysis
of Nielsen data
