Source: Mediaweek
ESPN regained the cable ratings title last week, topping all comers with an average 3.66 million prime time viewers and a 2.9 household rating for the week ended Dec. 24.
The sports network also took first in the three core demos, averaging 1.74 million adults 18-49 in prime, as well as 1.74 million adults 25-54 and 838,000 adults 18-34.
As has been the case throughout the fourth quarter, ESPN boasted the week’s most-watched program on ad-supported cable, delivering 14.22 million viewers with its Monday Night Football matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts. The game also racked up the largest audiences in the target demos, averaging 7.37 million adults 18-49, 7.23 million 25-54s and 3.64 million 18-34s.
Second place on the week went to USA Network, which averaged just under 2.8 million total viewers and a 2.2 HH rating, thanks in large part to its special three-hour presentation of WWE Raw (Monday 8 p.m.-11 p.m.). The franchise averaged 4.85 million viewers over the course of the night, nabbing two of the week’s top five programming slots.
Non-ad-supported Disney Channel finished third among all cable nets, averaging 2.55 million viewers in prime and a 2.1 HH rating, serving up its largest audience with a Monday night screening of The Santa Clause 2 (3.95 million viewers). Among ad-supported nets, TNT placed behind USA (2.14 million/1.7), while ABC Family took fourth (2.06 million/1.4) and TBS finished fifth (1.96 million/1.5).
Among the week’s more significant numbers, NFL Network drew 2.97 million viewers with its Thursday night showdown between NFC North rivals the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, and followed that up with an audience of 2.36 million viewers Saturday night (Chiefs-Raiders).
The Packers-Vikings tilt delivered the second largest program share of the week (7.2) for NFL Net, which is seen in just over 41 million households.
