Pick a Demo: The Top 10 Ad-Supported Nets
In the demographically targeted world of cable programming, the top-rated ad-supported networks vary widely by age, but some networks like Nickelodeon that target younger viewers rank among the top 10 in seven of the nine demos used here.
by George Winslow -- Multichannel News, 1/4/2009 7:00:00 PM
| People 2-Plus | ||
|---|---|---|
| Viewers in thousands | ||
| Network | Average Audience | |
| 2008 | 2007 | |
| 1. Nickelodeon | 2213 | 2119 |
| 2. Nick at Nite | 1500 | 1240 |
| 3. USA | 1293 | 1219 |
| 4. TNT | 1250 | 1217 |
| 5. Cartoon | 1088 | 1101 |
| 6. Fox News | 1061 | 822 |
| 7. Adult Swim | 1003 | 1082 |
| 8. TBS | 980 | 935 |
| 9. ESPN | 901 | 833 |
| 10. Lifetime | 900 | 918 |
| Men 18-Plus | ||
|---|---|---|
| Viewers in thousands | ||
| Network | Average Audience | |
| 2008 | 2007 | |
| 1. ESPN | 608 | 558 |
| 2. Fox News | 519 | 407 |
| 3. TNT | 508 | 479 |
| 4. USA | 497 | 460 |
| 5. The History Channel | 439 | 402 |
| 6. TBS | 400 | 374 |
| 7. Adult Swim | 377 | 371 |
| 8. Discovery | 359 | 374 |
| 9. CNN | 340 | 236 |
| 10. Spike | 332 | 330 |
| Women 18-Plus | ||
|---|---|---|
| Viewers in thousands | ||
| Network | Average Audience | |
| 2008 | 2007 | |
| 1. USA | 672 | 625 |
| 2. TNT | 630 | 625 |
| 3. Lifetime | 621 | 642 |
| 4. Nick at Nite | 556 | 491 |
| 5. Fox News | 523 | 400 |
| 6. Hallmark | 465 | 458 |
| 7. HGTV | 447 | 440 |
| 8. Nickelodeon | 446 | 419 |
| 9. TBS | 439 | 433 |
| 10. A&E Network | 426 | 427 |
| Kids 2-11 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Viewers in thousands | ||
| Network | Average Audience | |
| 2008 | 2007 | |
| 1. Nickelodeon | 1212 | 1201 |
| 2. Cartoon | 600 | 609 |
| 3. Nick at Nite | 297 | 279 |
| 4. Adult Swim | 189 | 243 |
| 5. Toon Disney | 125 | 136 |
| 6. ABC Family | 107 | 92 |
| 7. TBS | 56 | 54 |
| 8. Discovery | 55 | 68 |
| 9. USA Network | 55 | 63 |
| 10. Nicktoons | 70 | 60 |
| Teens 12-17 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Viewers in thousands | ||
| Network | Average Audience | |
| 2008 | 2007 | |
| 1. Nick at Nite | 319 | 248 |
| 2. Nickelodeon | 297 | 277 |
| 3. Adult Swim | 231 | 229 |
| 4. Cartoon | 158 | 154 |
| 5. MTV | 132 | 160 |
| 6. ABC Family | 130 | 115 |
| 7. Comedy Central | 93 | 86 |
| 8. TBS | 84 | 74 |
| 9. USA | 70 | 71 |
| 10. FX | 81 | 71 |
| Young Adults 18-24 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Viewers in thousands | ||
| Network | Average Audience | |
| 2008 | 2007 | |
| 1. Adult Swim | 234 | 261 |
| 2. Nick at Nite | 204 | 157 |
| 3. TBS | 154 | 144 |
| 4. MTV | 150 | 172 |
| 5. Nickelodeon | 140 | 128 |
| 6. Comedy Central | 129 | 120 |
| 7. ESPN | 123 | 109 |
| 8. USA | 111 | 111 |
| 9. FX | 110 | 101 |
| 10. TNT | 105 | 103 |
| Adults 25 to 34 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Viewers in thousands | ||
| Network | Average Audience | |
| 2008 | 2007 | |
| 1. Nickelodeon | 214 | 195 |
| 2. Nick at Nite | 185 | 142 |
| 3. Adult Swim | 180 | 173 |
| 4. ESPN | 172 | 163 |
| 4. TBS | 172 | 152 |
| 6. TNT | 167 | 158 |
| 7. USA | 149 | 152 |
| 8. Comedy Central | 121 | 119 |
| 9. Discovery | 117 | 124 |
| 10. FX | 116 | 112 |
| Adults 35-49 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Viewers in thousands | ||
| Network | Average Audience | |
| 2008 | 2007 | |
| 1. TNT | 347 | 330 |
| 2. USA | 339 | 312 |
| 3. Nick at Nite | 266 | 206 |
| 4. TBS | 251 | 244 |
| 5. Lifetime | 237 | 239 |
| 6. ESPN | 230 | 210 |
| 7. Nickelodeon | 213 | 191 |
| 8. A&E | 210 | 206 |
| 9. History | 186 | 163 |
| 10. TruTV | 188 | 164 |
| Network | Average Audience | |
| 2008 | 2007 | |
| SOURCE: Nielsen Media. Ad-supported networks ranked by average audience for full day, year to date. For 2008, the ratings cover Jan. 1, 2008, to Nov. 19, 2008; for 2007, they cover Jan. 1, 2007, to Nov. 28, 2007. Compiled for Multichannel News by Fox Cable Networks. | ||
| 1. Fox News | 822 | 617 |
| 2. USA | 570 | 511 |
| 3. TNT | 520 | 513 |
| 4. Hallmark | 519 | 522 |
| 5. CNN | 466 | 336 |
| 6. Lifetime | 397 | 427 |
| 7. HGTV | 344 | 350 |
| 8. TV Land | 336 | 349 |
| 9. TruTV | 338 | 331 |
| 10. A&E | 323 | 349 |
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