• by Wayne Friedman , February 9, 2010

Its traditional TV platform might need some work, but among all TV networks' individual Web sites, the NBC brand name comes out on top for 2009.

Last year, NBC.com averaged just over 7.0 million unique visitors every month -- just a bit better than ABC.com, which was at 6.9 million. This yearly data comes from Internet research measuring companies, Omniture and comScore Media Metrix.

The real difference for NBC comes from the total minutes spent during an average 30 day period: 91 total minutes per visitor, which comes to 6.6 average minutes per visit. NBC said it gained 11% in total minutes over 2008.

ABC was a distant second with 79 total minutes, and 4.6 average minutes per visit. CBS came in third place, 5.0 million unique monthly visitors, 76 total minutes, and 5.1 average minutes per visit.

These results do not include data from Hulu.com, or any associated sites the networks use to syndicate their content. CBS, for example, heavily syndicates its content to hundreds of Web sites.

Many individual branded-network sites contain more than just full-length videos to be screened. Those areas typically include clips, photo galleries, promotion and other content.

For its specific shows, "The Biggest Loser" was NBC.com's No. 1 show site in page views, at 239 million. On NBC.com, "The Office" was tops in monthly average unique visitors: 2.1 million, and total video streams, 116 million. "Saturday Night Live" was the top NBC.com site for the year in short-form streams, at 63 million, and widget streams at 14 million.

Although Fox is the No. 1 network currently among 18-49 viewers, its Fox.com slotted in at fourth place, with 3.7 million average unique monthly visitors, where 31 total minutes are viewed per person. This comes to 5.7 minutes per visit. The CW's CWTV.com had 2.4 million unique visitors, 32 total minutes per person, and 3.9 average minutes per visit.

TV Network Web Site Sctivity For 2009

Total Unique Visitors Total Minutes Average Minutes per Visit

NBC.com 7,008 91 6.6

ABC.com 6,945 79 4.6

CBS.com 5,000 76 5.1

Fox.com 3,658 31 3.9

CWTV.com 2,429 32 5.7

Source: Omniture and comScore Media Metrix, January - December 2009