It was close but the Disney Channel did it…and after all, a win is a win. Depeding on which measuring method used, the Disney Channel ended the stranglehold that the USA Network had on 2009 primetime viewing at 10 weeks.
Disney Channel averaged 2.614 million views during the week of March 9-15, compared to 2.608 million viewers for USA Network, according to Nielsen Media Research. This was the most watched week since October 20, 2008. Disney Channel viewership grew 30% from the week of March 2-8, when the network averaged 2.01 million primetime viewers.
Disney Channel placed four programs among basic-cable’s top 10 most-watched shows last week: Cars was third with 4.65 million on March 14; a Hannah Montana episode on March 15 was fourth with a 4.42 million (the show’s best mark in viewers and kids demos since Nov. 23, 2008); A Wizards of Waverly Place episode that night was seventh at 4.16 million; and Sonny With a Chance that evening was 10th with 3.99 million watchers on average.
Fox News Channel was third with a 1.8 household average and 2.24 million viewers. TBS (1.93 million), ESPN (1.85 million) and Nick at Nite (1.69 million) were tied for fourth place, each with a 1.4 household average. TNT was next with a 1.2 and 1.6 million viewers. There was a logjam at the bottom of the top 10 among Cartoon Network (1.47 million), A&E (1.44 million) History (1.30 million) and Hallmark (1.26 million), all with a 1.1 mark.
Thu, Mar 19, 2009
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