There was a new pecking order in primetime last week, with Nickelodeon leading the household-ratings race and sister service Nick at Nite claiming a share of basic cable’s fifth spot.
The positions reflect a new division of the MTV Networks services, which are now being gauged as separate entities even though they share the same channel space.
Nick averaged a 2.7 rating in primetime, according to an ABC Cable Networks Group analysis of Nielsen Media Research data. Nick’s primetime comprised nine hours from March 29-April 4.
Nick at Nite airs Sunday-Thursday from 9 p.m.-6 a.m. and from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Nick airs during the balance on the service save for weekdays from 6 a.m.-6:30 a.m., when Cable in the Classroom fare runs.
USA Network was second with a 2.1, ahead of third-place TBS Superstation’s 2.0. Turner Network Television was fourth at a 1.9, while Nick at Nite earned a 1.6 for its 12 hours of primetime.
ESPN and Disney Channel matched the sitcom purveyor’s mark for the week.
Rounding out the top 10: Lifetime Television and Fox News Channel, each with a 1.4, and Cartoon Network at a 1.3.
Gauged on a total-day basis, Nickelodeon was in its usual first-place perch, but with a much higher rating than usual: a 2.0. That was well ahead of NAN’s 1.2, TNT’s 1.1 and TBS’ and Disney’s 1.0 averages over the 24-hour measurement.
