Ad-supported cable marked its 75th consecutive week of primetime audience growth in Week #17 of the 2001/2002 television season.
According to Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau analysis of Nielsen
data for the week of January 14-20, ad-supported cable's average primetime U.S. household delivery increased by 2.2 million homes (+7.9%) versus the same period last year; rating climbed 1.2 points
(+4.5%); and share gained 2.7 points (+6.4%).
Collective primetime viewership to the seven national broadcast networks during Week #17 was flat compared to the year before.
Broadcast delivery
rose by only 0.7%, while rating and share declined by 2.4% and 0.8% respectively.
CBS recorded the largest broadcast gains for the week with a 2.3 million household surge in delivery, while ABC
continued to hemorrhage viewers, losing almost 2.3 million homes.