In the fourth quarter, TV networks continued to struggle in terms of U.S. domestic advertising revenue and viewership. Collectively, the four major TV networks witnessed a 1.5% drop in advertising
revenue to $4.68 billion — with Fox taking the biggest hit, according to MoffettNathanson Research.
Fox was down 9% to $971 million, while ABC slipped 2% to $895 million. The
best results came from NBC, up 2% to $1.64 billion (including NBC-owned stations). CBS inched up 0.5% to $1.2 billion.
Cable networks also took a hit, down 1.3% in total for the
major network groups to $5.65 billion.
Viacom networks were down 6% to $1.05 billion; Discovery (sans BBC America) slipped 4% to $395 million; Disney was off 3% to $1.19 billion; and
NBCU/Comcast networks dropped 25 to $889 million.
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Better performers included AMC Networks, up 15% to $236 million; 21st Century Fox, 5% to the good, totaling $470 million; and
Scripps Networks, improving 3% to $452 million. Time Warner cable networks were flat at $971 million.
Overall ratings performance continued to hurt all TV networks with prime-time
18-49 viewership in C3 ratings — commercial ratings plus three days of time-shifting — down 7% each for cable and broadcast networks. This was the lowest level since the first quarter of
2013.
CBS had the best results during this period — up 2% to 2.58 million 18-49 viewers — while ABC was up 1% to 2.37 million. NBC was
down 10% to 3.29 million, and Fox was off a steeper 21% to 2.09 million.
On the cable side, Fox networks grew 5% to 858,000, with virtually all other cable network groups sinking
— the worst coming with A&E down 20% to 887,000. Also in double-digit declines were Viacom, off 18% to 2.18 million; NBCU, losing 15% to 1.3 million; and AMC Networks, down 11% to
438,000.