• by Wayne Friedman , July 5, 2006

Broadcast networks continue to experiment with putting on their sister cable networks' programming. Now ABC has seen good results.

ABC Family's new "Kyle XY" doubled its viewership numbers on a Friday, June 30th run on the ABC broadcast network, averaging 5.2 million viewers. On ABC Family, four days before, the show pulled in 2.6 million viewers.

"Kyle XY" has become the best-rated scripted programming ever for ABC Family. The replay on ABC increased the show's adult 18-49 rating by nearly 80 percent to a 1.6 rating, 6 share among. "Kyle" beat out reruns of CBS' "Close to Home," NBC's "Las Vegas," and Fox's "24."

Early this year, NBC took on USA Network's "The 4400," but to less dramatic results--mostly because "The 4400" was a highlight show. Next up is Fox, which will re-run the new FX series starring Danny DeVito, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

Other new cable series are also seeing good results--even without the rerun help of the broadcast network:

Spike TV's "Blade: The Series"--its first ever original scripted series for the network--pulled in 2.5 million viewers last Wednesday for the two-hour premiere. The series is based on a theatrical franchise that starred Wesley Snipes.

"Blade" was cable TV's top-rated show of the night in adults 18-49, and its 1.3 rating/4 share beat a rerun of ABC's "Lost", which took in a 1.1/3 among 18-49 viewers for the 10 p.m. hour.