• by Wayne Friedman , April 9, 2012

Heading into this year’s upfront, many cable networks have a good story to tell -- but most are smaller mid-networks, according to RPA.

A report from media agency RPA says those cable networks below the top 25 viewing networks gained 2% in total average viewership, according to season-to-date Nielsen C3 data for September 19, 2011 through January 15, 2012.

Overall, the top 25 networks were down 3% in total viewers, according to Nielsen C3 data.

Those that gained ground in the top group among total viewers were USA (3%); History (6%); Cartoon Network (7%); Adult Swim (12%); FX (3%); A&E (13%); Syfy (7%); Discovery (12%); Hallmark (3%); and Food Network (17%).

On the losing end: ESPN (7%); Nickelodeon (6%); TBS (4%); Nick-At-Nite (29%); Fox News (6%); TNT (13%); ABC Family (4%); ION (15%); HGTV (9%); AMC (4%); truTV (1%); and MTV (10%).

Nielsen C3 data are commercial ratings plus three days of time-shifted viewing, the measurement that advertisers use for their media buys.

ESPN’s “NFL Monday Night Football” continues to be the big draw when it comes to C3 ratings among 18-49 viewers -– pulling in 6.5 million viewers. NFL Network’s “NFL Thursday Night Football” was next with 2.98 million; FX’s “Sons of Anarchy,” 2.33 million; TBS’ “MLB Division Series,” 2.24 million; and FX’ s “American Horror Story,” 2.040 million.

The next group, in places five through 10, are: USA “WWE Entertainment” at 1.933 million; NFL Network's ”NFL Thursday Night Football Pre-Kick,” 1.643 million; AMC’s “Walking Dead,” 1.53 million; USA’s “Psych,” 1.46 million; and TBS’ “For Better or Worse,” 1.33 million.

Some bigger cable shows like AMC’s “Mad Men,” MTV’s “Jersey Shore,” and AMC's “The Killing,” had yet to debut new seasons.