• by January 8, 2001

Ad-supported cable achieved record viewership between Christmas and New Year's Day, surpassing all seven broadcast networks combined for the first time ever during that holiday period.

According to Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau analysis of Nielsen data for Week #13 (December 25-31), ad-supported cable's average primetime U.S. household delivery increased 7.1% to 26.7 million homes compared to the same period a year ago; rating rose by 5.6% to 26.2 points; and share climbed by 11% to 46.6 points.

In contrast, primetime viewership to the seven broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, WB, UPN, PAX) fell behind ad-supported cable in every measure.

Broadcasters' collective U.S. HH delivery dropped 15.6% to 26.6 million; rating fell 16.8% to 26.0 points; and share plummeted by 12.3% to 46.5 points.

For the 2000/2001 TV season-to-date (10/02/00-12/31/00), ad-supported cable has posted across-the-board audiences gains versus the seven broadcast networks' collective across-the-board declines.

Particularly significant are the major gains cable has made this season in 18-49 year old viewers at the expense of the broadcast networks. CAB reports that ad-supported cable's primetime delivery of persons 18-49 is up 10.4%; rating climbed 10.2%; and its share of the 18-49 demo rose 7.1%.