• by Wayne Friedman , April 30, 2013

TV viewer gains were had at A+E, Fox News, and TNT in April versus a year ago. But USA Network still remained on top in total average viewers.

A+E grew a substantial 36% to get to 2.020 million prime-time viewers, thanks to its reality shows like "Duck Dynasty"-- good for third place among all ad-supported cable networks. Fox News was also up -- albeit somewhat less -- landing it in second place, with 9% to 2.028 million viewers.

Big gains for A+E were also found among 18-49 viewers -- up a massive 35% to 980,000. That put it in second place in the 18-49 race to TBS, which was at 1.017 million, down 2%.

USA Network -- in between its winter and summer seasons for its original programming -- was down 11%.  But it was still No. 1 among all ad-supported cable networks, at nearly 3 million average prime-time viewers.

Among total viewers, TNT was just a bit behind those in the 2 million prime-time range -- at 1.985 million up a nice 18%. The end of the NBA season helped out here. Its partner in crime TBS was about even with a year ago -- down 2% to 1.813 million.

It wasn't only cable news on Fox News that got a lift -- but also CNN, partly because of high-profile news such as the bombings at the Boston Marathon. CNN almost doubled its total viewer prime-time numbers -- up 80% to 976,000 versus April 2012. Among 18-49 viewers, CNN grew to 292,000 from 118,000 in April of a year ago -- a massive 147% rise.

Some good news for Viacom: Nick at Nite put on some 28% in prime time to get to 1.040 million; it also added to its 18-49 viewers' coffers, 18% higher to 324,000.

A+E's sister network Lifetime also had some good news in the period, growing 11% to 1.211 million. It was also 4% higher among 18-49 viewers at 513,000.

Going in the other direction among the big players: Food Network was down 17% to 1.059 million -- and was also down 24% among 18-49 viewers. Discovery gave back 13%, also coming in at 1.059 million. It was down 20% among 18-49 viewers to land at 517,000.

AMC also lost some -- 10% -- to 967,000 total viewers, and was also off 7% among 18-49 viewers, at 385,000.