Industry leader USA Network delivered strong results in prime time among both overall viewers and in the key 18-49 demographic, rising 15% to an average 3.2 million overall viewers and 9% among 18-49 viewers to 1.4 million.

USA has benefited this summer period from strong results for new drama "Royal Pains" and returning shows "Burn Notice" and "In Plain Sight."

Second-place TNT also grew, but at a slower place -- 8% in total viewers to 2.6 million and 7% among 18-49 viewers.

Disney Channel also grew by the exact same rate in prime time -- 8% to 2.3 million among total viewers and 7% among 18-49 viewers. Its core audience -- those 6-11 and 9-14 -- also climbed 7% apiece to 992,000 and 831,000 viewers, respectively.

Coming off the heavy political season, Fox News also maintained its winning ways -- rocketing up 34% to 2.1 million viewers in prime time, coming in right behind Disney Channel for fourth place. Other demos also had strong results -- including 18-49 viewers, which climbed 41% to 376,000.

Fox News competitor CNN went in the other direction in prime time in the second quarter -- down 10% to 863,000 overall viewers and down 16% among 18-49 viewers to 203,000. CNN's sister network, Headline News, had a better time of it -- up 40% to 556,000 overall viewers in prime time.

Other big players had mixed results -- ESPN off 1% to 1.7 million overall prime-time viewers and off 2% among 18-49 viewers to 827,000. TBS was lighter by 7% to 1.6 million overall viewers and off 3% to 965,000 18-49 viewers.

Losing major ground was Lifetime -- it lost 28% to 1.1 million overall viewers and was down 23% among 18-49s. Spike fell 27% to 1.0 million overall viewers and was 19% less for 18-49 viewers to 572,000.

Notable gains: BET was 44% higher to 859,000 overall viewers, and up 43% to 446,000 18-49 viewers. TLC was 25% better than second-quarter 2008 at 1.1 million viewers and 19% better among 18-49 viewers at 550,000.

Food Network showed a 20% gain to 1.0 million overall viewers, and was 18% higher to 520,000 18-49 viewers.

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