USA ran its primetime win streak in 2008 to an even dozen, but the Nielsen mover last week was Nick at Nite, which finished third for the period behind the strength of a George Lopez marathon.
USA finished the period of March 17 through March 23 with a 2.2 household average, according to a Disney ABC Cable Networks of Nielsen Media Research data. Disney Channel was second again, this time notching a 1.9 average.
For its part, Nick at Nite, which had finished sixth the previous two weeks, garnered a 1.7 mark from March 17-23, as the Nickelodeon channel-sharer aired George Lopez episodes from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. last Friday (March 21) and Saturday (March 22) and from 9 p.m. through 6 a.m. on the other days. The network averaged 2.2 million viewers in primetime, 64% higher than against the year-earlier period.
Last week, Nick at Nite nipped at Nick as cable’s king of total with a 1.7 household average, just 0.1 point its channel mate. Averaging 2 million viewers in total-day, the network scored its best week ever with this measurement.
All told, Nick at Nite executives said the service ranked first in total days among cable networks among persons 12 to 17 and 25 to 54; adults 18 to 34 and 18 to 49; and women 18 to 34, 18 to 49 and 25 to 54.
Back in primetime, Turner twins TBS and TNT were tied for fourth, both with 1.6 averages. Fox News Channel followed with a 1.5 mark.
Lifetime Television and Spike TV were tied for seventh, each with a 1.7 average.
Rounding out the top 10: History, FX and TruTV, all with a 1.0.
Averaging a 0.9 household rating and finishing just outside of the top group were Cartoon Network, ABC Family, ESPN, AMC, Comedy Central, MTV, Discovery Channel and Sci Fi Channel and Hallmark Channel.
