• by February 2, 2001

In a week that included the year's most highly touted broadcast network programming, ad-supported cable continued to post significant audience viewership gains in every measure.

According to CAB analysis of Nielsen data for Week #17 of the 2000/2001 season (Jan. 22-28, 2001), ad-supported cable's average primetime U.S. HH delivery grew 7.7% to 26.6 million households, compared to the same period last year; rating rose 1.6 points (+6.5%); and share climbed 3 points to 41.4.

According to the CAB, even with the Super Bowl and the debut of "Survivor 2," collective primetime audience viewership to the 4 major broadcast network affiliates (ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX) was down. Compared to Week #17 in the previous year, the 4 networks' U.S. HH delivery declined by 1.76 million households, rating dropped 6.4% and share was down 5.2%.

The Nielsen ratings for the top 15 programs on basic cable networks for the week of Jan. 22-28, is as follows:

1. "WWF Entertainment" (Monday, 10 p.m.), TNN, 4.5, 4.58 million homes.

2. "WWF Entertainment" (Monday, 9 p.m.), TNN, 4.2, 4.27 million homes.

3. "The Pretender 2001" (Monday, 8 p.m.), TNT, 3.5, 3.53 million homes.

4. Movie: "What Makes a Family" (Monday, 9 p.m.), Lifetime, 3.0, 3.03 million homes.

5. "Rugrats" (Monday, 7:30 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.8, 2.85 million homes.

6. Movie: "Mercury Rising" (Tuesday, 9 p.m.), USA, 2.7, 2.8 million homes.

7. "Ripley's Believe It or Not" (Wednesday, 8:01 p.m.), TBS, 2.7, 2.72 million homes.

8. "Rugrats" (Saturday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.6, 2.7 million homes.

9. Movie: "Season in Purgatory" (Sunday, 2 p.m.), Lifetime, 2.5, 2.53 million homes.

10. "Rugrats" (Friday, 8 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.4, 2.48 million homes.

11. "Hey Arnold" (Monday, 7 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.4, 2.47 million homes.

12. "Rugrats" (Friday, 7:30 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.4, 2.47 million homes.

13. "Rugrats" (Sunday, 9:30 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.4, 2.45 million homes.

14. "Rugrats" (Thursday, 7:30 p.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.4, 2.44 million homes.

15. "Rugrats" (Sunday, 9 a.m.), Nickelodeon, 2.4, 2.43 million homes.