Summer of Cable Love

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Summer of Cable Love

Despite distractions, it's another banner season

Aug 21, 2008
-By Kimberly Nordyke
The Hollywood Reporter

Summer 2008 may not have generated as many ratings headlines for cable as last year, when Disney Channel's "High School Musical 2" blew away viewership records and there was a higher number of original scripted series bows.

But the ad-supported cable networks still are hitting record viewership deliveries this summer. According to Turner Research data released Tuesday, the sector collectively is averaging 6 million more primetime viewers than 2004, the most recent year that included a presidential election and a Summer Olympics.

That group, which includes most basic cable networks with exceptions like Disney Channel, is averaging 51 million total viewers in primetime from May 26-Aug. 17, continuing an annual trend of growing summertime viewership. That figure represents a 13% increase over 2004 but less than a 1% increase over 2007.

Among basic cable's success stories this summer are Disney Channel's original movie "Camp Rock," the year's most-watched cable telecast; USA Network's "In Plain Sight," cable's most-watched new series; ABC Family's series "The Secret Life of the American Teenager"; and A&E Network's mini "The Andromeda Strain."

ABC Family also is having a strong summer, thanks in part to "Secret Life," which ranks as its most-watched original series ever among total viewers and key demos including 18-34, 18-49 and persons 12-34.

"(Creator) Brenda Hampton really hit a nerve with 'Secret Life,' " network president Paul Lee said. "Now we have a real portfolio of original series, and it makes it much easier for fans to cross from one show to another. We're noticing that summer is still a great launchpad, but we're moving into 12 months a year."

http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_...fe50555d7e4d4a

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Disney’s ‘Cheetah Girls’
Chase Down Young Viewers

"One World" Premiere Pulls 6.2 Million Viewers

By Larry Barrett
Multichannel News
8/25/2008 4:17:00 PM

Friday night’s premiere of Disney Channel’s The Cheetah Girls: One World, the third installment of the network’s original movie series, drew more than 6.2 million viewers Friday night despite going head-to-head with NBCU’s Summer Olympics coverage.

The film, starring Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams and Sabrina Bryan, was TV’s No. 1 telecast overall among kids 6-11 (2.8 million) and Tweens 9-14 (2.4 million), network officials said.

Peaking with an average of nearly 7 million total viewers in its final half-hour, The Cheetah Girls: One World grew its audience by 14%, start to finish (5.9 million to 6.7 million), against the Olympics. Among kids 6-11 (2.6 million to 3.0 million) and tweens 9-14 (2.3 million to 2.6 million), One World climbed by 15% and 13%, respectively.

With Camp Rock and The Cheetah Girls: One World, Disney Channel is currently home to this summer's top 2 movies in total viewers (8.9 million; 6.2 million), kids 6-11 (3.5 million; 2.8 million) and tweens 9-14 (3.4 million; 2.4 million).

Compared to the year-ago timeslot, One World doubled delivery in tweens 9-14 (2.4 million vs. 1.2 million) and posted double-digit percent gains in total viewers (55%, 6.2 million vs. 4.0 million) and kids 6-11 (75%, 2.8 million vs. 1.6 million), according to Nielsen Media Research.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6590150.html