• by Wayne Friedman , December 15, 2015

Through nearly three months of the new TV season, broadcast and cable networks have continued to see overall single-digit percentage declines in total day viewership among key viewers.

Top cable network groups have fallen slightly more than broadcast networks -- down 6% for cable versus 3% for broadcast networks, in looking at 18-49 viewers for total day live and same-day time-shifted ratings, according to MoffettNathanson Research.

CBS and NBC have fared the best -- flat versus a year ago. Fox is down 2%, with ABC losing 12% from a year ago.

CBS has gained from strong NFL ratings and from college football. NBC’s prime-time “Sunday Night Football” ratings have given the network overall stability. Fox has also maintained health from its NFL programming, its Sunday afternoon games.

ABC has suffered because of declining Saturday night college football viewership.

Better-performing cable network groups are AMC Networks and independent cable channels, both gaining 2% in total day 18-49 viewer metrics. Scripps Networks Interactive and Time Warner cable network groups are each flat in viewership versus a year ago.

On the opposite side of things: A&E Networks is down 19% so far this year; NBCUniversal is off 13%; and Fox cable networks slipped 11%.

Somewhat better-performing cable networks are Viacom and Discovery Communications, each down 4% and Disney/ABC networks off 7%. Disney has been hurt by declines at ESPN and Disney Channel.