• by Adam Bernard , January 24, 2002

Ad-supported cable marked its 75th consecutive week of primetime audience growth in Week #17 of the 2001/2002 television season.

According to Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau analysis of Nielsen data for the week of January 14-20, ad-supported cable's average primetime U.S. household delivery increased by 2.2 million homes (+7.9%) versus the same period last year; rating climbed 1.2 points (+4.5%); and share gained 2.7 points (+6.4%).

Collective primetime viewership to the seven national broadcast networks during Week #17 was flat compared to the year before.

Broadcast delivery rose by only 0.7%, while rating and share declined by 2.4% and 0.8% respectively.

CBS recorded the largest broadcast gains for the week with a 2.3 million household surge in delivery, while ABC continued to hemorrhage viewers, losing almost 2.3 million homes.