Disney Tops Weekly Ratings Race

With no ESPN and TNT NBA playoffs coverage to contend with, Disney Channel earned top honors as the most watched cable network in primetime last week, according to Nielsen.

Disney, on the strength of the 5.6 million viewers that tuned into its June 15 original musical film Let It Shine, averaged 2.8 million viewers during the week of June 11 to June 17, according to a Disney-ABC Television Group analysis of Nielsen data.

TNT, which boasted the most watched show of the week with the premiere of Dallas, finished second with 2.6 million viewers. USA Network pulled into third place with 2.6 million viewers, followed by History with 2.3 million viewers and Fox News with 1.6 million watchers.

A&E (1.6 million viewers); TBS (1.5 million); Fx (1.29 million), ESPN (1.26 million) and Food Network (1.25 million) rounded out the top 10.

Disney also finished first on a total day basis, besting Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and TNT in that order. Disney also dominated the kids category, topping Nickelodeon among key kids 2 to 11 and 6 to 11 demos, according to Nielsen.

USA Network and its WWE Monday Night Raw live wrestling series were the top network and program choices respectively among adults 18-49, while USA Network and MTV's Teen Mom 4 captured more 18-34 viewers last week.

 
Most Watched Shows For The Week*
1 6/13/2012     Dallas                                                TNT                                   6.8 million
2 6/15/2012     Let It Shine                                       Disney Channel              5.6 million
3 6/11/2012     Pawn Stars                                       History                              5.6 million
4 6/11/2012     Pawn Stars                                       History                              5.5 million
5 6/17/2012     Sprint Cup Racing/Michigan         TNT                                   5.2 million
6 6/12/2012     Rizzoli & Isles                                  TNT                                   5.1 million
7 6/11/2012     WWE Entertainment                       USA                                  5.0 million
8 6/11/2012     WWE Entertainment                       USA                                  4.8 million
9 6/11/2012     American Pickers                            History                             4.8 million
11 6/17/2012   Falling Skies                                    TNT                                  4.4 million
*week of 6/11 to 6/17

Source: Nielsen