USA's Bark Means Ratings Bite
By Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 2/12/2003 11:43:00 AM
USA Network executives were howling with delight over the record viewership for its coverage of the 127th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show Feb. 10 and 11.
The network averaged 4.6 million viewers each night, the most in USA's 20 years of WKC coverage, according to Nielsen Media Research data.
On Tuesday night, when Kerry blue terrier Mick was dubbed best in show, USA scored a 4.2 household rating from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m., tying a mark established during a show in February 1997, according to USA officials.
The Feb. 11 show, though, attracted 5.3 million viewers -- USA's most ever with the canine competition.
Averaging a 3.7 rating (4.6 million viewers, 3.2 million households), USA scored a 9 percent gain from last year's two-night 3.4 average.
"Westminster is the annual best-of-the-best. There was tremendous interest this year," USA senior vice president of production and sports Gordon Beck said in a prepared statement. "The drama was intense from the first group on Monday night through the very end."
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