Networks Ring Out 2007 In Fine Nielsen Fashion
CNBC, ABC Family, Hallmark Among Strong Performers In 2007
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 1/5/2008 7:16:00 AM
Before the new year gets too old, here's a scorecard of how some networks notched new ratings records in the old year, which Nielsen Media Research calculated as Jan. 1 through Dec. 30, 2007:
*ABC Family: The network notched a host of marks in 2007. In primetime, ABC Family registered bests in total viewership (1.2 million), adults 18 to 34 (276,000) and adults 18 to 49 (531,000). In total day, previous records fell among adults 18 to 34 (170,000), adults 18 to 49 (300,000) and women 18 to 49 (202,000).
The service was bolstered by solid performances from original series Greek and Lincoln Heights and its best-ever "25 Days of Christmas" stunt, highlighted by its most-viewed program: original movie Holiday in Handcuffs.
*Hallmark Channel: Another network that performs well in December with a series of holiday-themed telefilms, the service enjoyed its best year with a 1.2 rating average in 2007, translating into 935,000 households, and an eighth-place finish among ad-supported cable, according to officials.
In the fourth quarter, Hallmark was sixth with a 1.3 household average and 1.1 million homes, boosted by a 1.5 mark and 1.2 million homes in December, its top month ever.
*CNBC: The financial news sector leader had its best year since 2003 in its 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. business day daypart with the key 25-to-54 demo, averaging 83,000 of those watchers, 32% more than the 63,000 it garnered in 2006. With total viewers in business day, CNBC reached 254,000 on average, which network officials said was its best performance since 2002, and marked a 21% climb from 210,000 in 2006.
The network also recorded its best weekday primetime performance with total viewers since 2002, delivering 181,000, up 31% from 138.000 in 2006. Among the 25-to-54 set, CNBC notched its best total since 2001, reaching 75,000 on average in 2007, a 14% gain from 66,000 in the prior year, said network officials.
*E!: The Comcast-owned network had its best year ever with 328,000 viewers on average in total day. Households ratings increased 6%, while the 18 to 49 crowd was up 8% from 2006 levels, according to Comcast Entertainment officials..
*Style: The year 2007 was also the best annual period ever for the E!' spinoff, which counted 90,000 viewers on average in total day. Officials said Style was up 4% among households and 46% with its women 18-to-49 target group.
*G4: This male-aimed Comcast channel ran its total-day household growth streak to 33 months, averaging a network-best 85,0000 viewers during 2007 in the process. Throughout 2007, G4 saw households rise 31%, while its key male 18-to-34 target improved 46%, according to network officials.
*Sci Fi: It was the NBC Universal vehicle's best performance ever with adults 18 to 34, as it recorded a 21% charge in the demo to 232,000 of those watchers. The network beamed up 657,000 adults 25 to 54 on average in primetime, a 6% increase over 2006 levels to improve one place to sixth in ad-supported cable with the group.
Tin Man, its three-night Wizard of Oz adaptation, was Sci-Fi's top miniseries.
*A&E: It was a trio of demo primetime bests for the service in 2007: a 9% improvement to 619,000 adults 18-to-49 viewers; a 10% advance to 639,000 adults 25 to 54; and 11% amelioration to 282,000 adults 18 to 34 on average. Officials said the network was the only one in ad-supported cable to capture a double-digit gain with the older demo, finishing seventh overall among that group and eighth with adults 18 to 49.
