• by November 17, 2000

Ad-supported cable was the big winner during the most spotlighted presidential election week in history.

According to Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau analysis of Nielsen data for Week #6 of the 2000/2001 season (11/06-11/12/2000), ad-supported cable's average primetime U. S. HH delivery grew by more than 3.5 million homes (+15%) compared to the same period last year; rating rose 3.1 points (+13.1%); and share climbed 3.8 points (+10.1%).

In contrast, primetime viewership to the seven broadcast networks declined: broadcasters' collective U. S. HH delivery dipped 5.1%; and rating and share fell 2.4 points and 5.4 points respectively, according to the CAB.

On a total day basis, ad-supported cable's U. S. household delivery increased by 2.63 million homes, up 20.4% over the previous year; rating rose 2.4 points (+18.8 percent); and share climbed by 3.4 points (+8.5%). Affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, by comparison, lost a collective 2.1 share points (-4.4%).

The top rated cable programs for the week ending November 12 were: "NFL: Jets vs. Colts" (ESPN, 5.8, Sun,), "Presidential Election 2000" (CNN, 4.8, Tue), "Presidential Election 2000" (CNN, 4.8, Tue), "Presidential Election 2000" (CNN, 4.7, Tue), "Hillary Clinton Victory Speech" (CNN, 4.4, Tue), "Presidential Election 2000" (CNN, 4.2, Tue), "WWF Entertainment" (TNN, 4.0, Mon), "WWF Entertainment" (TNN, 4.0, Mon), "Presidential Election 2000" (CNN, 4.0, Tue), "Inside Politics" (CNN, 3.5, Thu), "Inside Politics" (CNN, 3.3, Thu), "NFL Primetime" (ESPN, 3.0, Sun), "Presidential Election 2000" (CNN, 3.0, Tue), "Decision 2000" (MSNBC, 2.3, Tue), "Presidential Race 2000 Recount" (CNN, 3.0, Wed), "Presidential Election 2000" (CNN, 3.0, Tue), "Rugrats" (NICK, 2.9, Sat), "Rugrats" (NICK, 2.9, Mon), "Rugrats" (NICK, 2.9, Sat), "Rugrats" (NICK, 2.9, Sat), and "Rugrats" (NICK, 2.9, Sun).