• April 3, 2002

Ad-supported cable’s share of total U.S. primetime viewing in Week #27 of the 2001/2002 TV season was 5 points higher (+11.8%) than the same period a year ago, reports the Cabletelevision Advertising Bureau. In other primetime audience measures for March 25-31, according to a CAB analysis of Nielsen data, cable’s U.S. household delivery increased by more than 3.1 million homes (+11.6%) compared to the year before; and rating climbed 2.1 points (+8.0%). Week #27 was the third week out of the past four that cable’s primetime U.S. household delivery has topped 30 million homes. It was also the second time in the past three weeks that cable has surpassed the seven broadcast networks combined (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, UPN, WB, PAX) in primetime viewership. Collectively, the broadcast networks lost 2.8 million homes (–8.6%); 3.6 rating points (–11.4%); and 4.3 share points (–8.3%) versus last year. Both ABC and FOX were both down more than 20%.