NBC hypes cable ratings
David
HIGH-FLYING FEBRUARY FOR NBC UNIVERSAL CABLE GROUP
USA IS THE #1 CABLE NETWORK FOR ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING IN FEBRUARY 2005
WITH THE #1 SERIES 'MONK'
SCI FI SCORES ITS HIGHEST FEBRUARY HOUSEHOLD RATING EVER AND IS UP 22
PERCENT IN 25-54 AND 29 PERCENT IN 18-49 VS. LAST FEBRUARY
BRAVO GROWS BIGGER AND YOUNGER IN ITS TOP-RATED FEBRUARY EVER
ORIGINAL PROGRAMS LIKE 'MONK,' 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA' AND 'PROJECT
RUNWAY' PACE NBCU'S BREAKTHROUGH MONTH
BURBANK, Calif. -- March 7, 2005 -- The cable networks of NBC
Universal have concluded their most successful February ever, with
USA, SCI FI and Bravo each hitting significant milestones of growth
and competitiveness, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen
Media Research.
USA Network finished the month of February as the #1 cable network for
original programming in the key demographic of adults 25-54. USA's
performance was led by the hit series "Monk," the #1 original program
on basic cable in February in adults 25-54, averaging 2.5 million
viewers in that key demographic and a 4.0 household rating for its
Friday 10 p.m. first-run episodes. Four of the top five series program
telecasts on cable in February in adults 25-54 were episodes of
"Monk." Add to those four "Monk" episodes, two USA telecasts of "Law &
Order: Special Victims Unit" and two episodes of SCI FI's hit series
"Battlestar Galactica" and NBC Universal Cable networks account for an
astonishing eight of the top ten series program telecasts on cable in
February in adults 25-54.*
Paced by the phenomenal performance of the original series "Battlestar
Galactica," "Stargate Atlantis" and "Stargate SG-1," SCI FI has just
wrapped a banner month in February 2005. The network posted remarkable
growth of 29 percent in adults 18-49 and 22 percent in adults 25-54
versus February 2004. SCI FI also achieved explosive growth of 40
percent in the valuable adult 18-34 demographic. With an average
delivery of 795,000 adults 25-54, SCI FI ranked #5 among all basic
cable networks in February. And the SCI FI series "Battlestar
Galactica" ranked #2 among all primetime cable programs in February,
second only to USA's "Monk"(excluding sports and series that were
limited to three or fewer telecasts in February).**
Led by its original series "Project Runway," "Queer Eye for the
Straight Guy" and "Celebrity Poker Showdown," Bravo has just concluded
it best February ever in both adults 18-49 (315,000) and adults 25-54
(322,000). Versus last February, Bravo's primetime audience has
increased a remarkable 31 percent in the key demographic of adults
18-49 and 18 percent in adults 25-54. Bravo was the second-fastest
growing basic cable network in primetime this February (excluding
networks in less than 60 million homes).
And while it was growing bigger, Bravo was growing markedly younger,
posting a 69 percent growth surge in adults 18-34 and lowering its
median age to 41.5, down four years from last February and seven years
from February 2003.***
In another February milestone for Bravo, the finale of "Project
Runway" on Wednesday, Feb. 23 set a time-period record for the network
and delivered Bravo's top ratings results of the 2004-05 season (1.183
million adult 25-54 viewers, 1.313 adult 18-49 viewers, 2.010 million
viewers overall). "Project Runway" concluded with more than five times
the adult 25-54 viewership and total viewership with which the series
premiered on Dec. 1 and six times the adult 18-49 audience. From 8-11
p.m. that night, Bravo averaged 996,000 adult 18-49 viewers, ranking
#1 among all cable networks.
And the cable networks of NBC Universal Entertainment dominated Friday
nights in February with SCI FI Channel and USA Network's acclaimed
original series "Battlestar Galactica," "Stargate Atlantis," "Stargate
SG-1" (all on SCI FI) and "Monk" (on USA).
In a remarkable run, SCI FI and USA have ranked either #1 or #2 in
both adults 18-49 and adults 25-54 on every Friday night of the
February sweep (Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25). In fact, since the Jan. 14
premiere of "Battlestar Galactica," SCI FI has been the #1 cable
network in adults 18-49 on four out of six Fridays (ranking #2 the
other two) and was the #1 cable net in adults 25-54 on five out of six
Fridays (ranking #2 once). Similarly since the Jan. 21 premiere of
"Monk," USA has typically ranked #1 or #2 in both adults 18-49 and
adults 25-54 (and has never ranked below #3) out of all 66 measured
cable networks.
And with their original programming SCI FI and USA have all but taken
over the Friday cable program rankings. Friday, Feb. 25, was typical,
as SCI FI and USA together accounted for four of the top five and
seven of the top 10 programs on cable among adults 25-54.
* USA Source: Nielsen Galaxy Explorer. based on 1/31/05-2/27/05. M-Su
8p-11p. Ranked on all original programming by network including
sports, excluding NICK, which does not program the full primetime
daypart. 6 of top 10 based on all telecasts on basic cable M-Su
8p-11p, excluding sports, wrestling and telecasts under 4. Monk Feb
average based on Fri premieres (2/4/05-2/25/05). Monk #1 program based
on M-Su 8p-11p ranked on all program trackages excluding sports.
** Sci Fi Source: Nielsen Galaxy Explorer. 1/31/05-2/27/05. M-Su
8p-11p (all basic cable networks, no sports). Fri 8p-11p (all basic
cable networks, excludes DSNY). BSG ranking (M-Su 8p-11p; ranked on
all program trackages, excluding sports, wrestling and telecasts under
4).
*** Bravo Source: Nielsen Galaxy Explorer. based on M-Su 7p-2a median
age. Bravo delivers 315,000 A18-49 (M-Su 8p-11p). 2nd fastest growing
basic cable network based on A18-49 M-Su 8p-11p Bravo +31% A18-49, CMT
+50%; excludes nets under 60+ million homes. Bravo delivered best
February based on M-Su 8p-11p.
Taylor McCaw
Did I miss the mention of CNBC's sucking ratings in primetime and pretty
much, the entire 24 hours of (soon to lose the "MS"-part of) MSNBC sucks
and the fact Univision (not Telemundo) is the #1 Latino cable channel?