Disney Channel Tops Prime for Fifth Week

For the fifth week running, Disney Channel scored the top spot in the primetime ratings, according to Nielsen Media Research released Tuesday.

During the week of Aug. 6 through 12, Disney Channel averaged a 2.4 household rating in primetime, with its hit shows Hannah Montana and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, as well as the theatricals Ella Enchanted and Finding Nemo, helping to drive its success.

In leading the basic cable pack for a fifth consecutive week, Disney Channel, which figures to push its winning streak to six with the first three airings of the sequel to telefilm phenomenon High School Musical this upcoming weekend, was just a squeak ahead of USA Network’s 2.3 mark, according to an ABC Cable Networks Group analysis of Nielsen data.

TNT ranked third for the week, with a 1.9 rating, but it had the highest-rated show for the period, with The Closer, the hit procedural-cop drama snared a 5.8 rating.

TBS and Hallmark Channel tied for fourth place in primetime, with a 1.3 rating. They were followed by a three-way tie among Lifetime Television, Cartoon Network and Fox News Channel, each registering a 1.2 rating.

HGTV, A&E Network and Court TV all garnered a 1.1 rating for the week, according to Nielsen.