Cable's Best
By Allison Romano -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/19/2004
USA Network is back on top. At least, according to Nielsen Media Research. The general-entertainment channel notched a big ratings win in the first quarter, narrowly edging out TNT for bragging rights as cable's most-watched channel. Things haven't been this good at USA since 2000, before World Wrestling Entertainment moved to TNN (now Spike TV).
TNT has reason to celebrate, too. The Turner network claimed top marks for two key adult demos: adults 18 to 49 years old and 25 to 54 years old.
Sporting events reigned as cable's biggest attractions early in the year. TNT's NBA All-Star Game and the network's NASCAR Budweiser Shootout and ESPN's NFL Pro Bowl and Holiday Bowl telecasts ranked as the most-watched programs.
Here's a look at how the networks and top programs fared, according to Nielsen Media Research.
Top 20 Programs, Adults 18-49
| Rank | Date | Program | NET. | Viewers (000) |
| 1 | 2/15 | 2004 NBA All-Star Game | TNT | 4,586 |
| 2 | 2/15 | NBA All-Star Pregame Show | TNT | 3,737 |
| 3 | 2/7 | NFL Pro Bowl | ESPN | 3,232 |
| 5 | 1/21 | Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica | MTV | 3,223 |
| 6 | 3/9 | Real World XIV | MTV | 3,120 |
| 7 | 1/27 | Real World XIV | MTV | 3,097 |
| 8 | 1/19 | American Chopper | Discovery | 3,077 |
| 9 | 3/22 | WWE | Spike | 3,068 |
| 10 | 2/3 | Real World XIV | MTV | 3,035 |
| 11 | 2/14 | NBA All-Star Sat Night | TNT | 3,028 |
| 12 | 1/26 | WWE | Spike | 2,980 |
| 13 | 2/24 | Real World XIV | MTV | 2,977 |
| 14 | 3/22 | WWE | Spike | 2,960 |
| 15 | 2/16 | American Chopper | Discovery | 2,958 |
| 16 | 3/8 | WWE | Spike | 2,924 |
| 17 | 2/2 | American Chopper | Discovery | 2,903 |
| 18 | 1/30 | Monk | USA | 2,902 |
| 19 | 1/26 | American Chopper | Discovery | 2,894 |
| 20 | 2/17 | Real World XIV | MTV | 2,890 |
Top 20 Programs, Adults 25-54
| Rank | Date | Program | NET. | Viewers (000) |
| 1 | 2/15 | 2004 NBA All-Star Game | TNT | 4,348 |
| 2 | 2/7 | Budweiser Shootout | TNT | 3,955 |
| 3 | 1/30 | Monk | USA | 3,679 |
| 4 | 2/15 | NBA All-Star Pregame Show | TNT | 3,529 |
| 5 | 1/16 | Monk | USA | 3,166 |
| 6 | 3/5 | Monk | USA | 3,151 |
| 7 | 2/8 | NFL Pro Bowl | ESPN | 3,093 |
| 8 | 2/6 | Monk | USA | 3,067 |
| 9 | 2/13 | Monk | USA | 3,066 |
| 10 | 1/23 | Monk | USA | 3,063 |
| 11 | 12/30 | Holiday Bowl | ESPN | 3,056 |
| 12 | 1/19 | American Chopper | Discovery | 3,048 |
| 13 | 3/8 | WWE | Spike | 2,869 |
| 14 | 2/2 | American Chopper | Discovery | 2,714 |
| 15 | 2/27 | Monk | USA | 2,689 |
| 16 | 2/14 | NBA All-Star Sat. Night | TNT | 2,662 |
| 17 | 1/1 | Outback-Bowl | ESPN | 2,632 |
| 18 | 1/26 | American Chopper | Discovery | 2,630 |
| 19 | 1/19 | WWE | Spike | 2,570 |
| 20 | 3/22 | WWE | Spike | 2,569 |
Top 20 Programs, Total Viewers
| Rank | Date | Program | NET. | Viewers (000) |
| 1 | 2/15 | 2004 NBA All-Star Game | TNT | 8,190 |
| 2 | 2/15 | NBA All-Star Pregame Show | TNT | 6,845 |
| 3 | 2/7 | Budweiser Shootout | TNT | 6,563 |
| 4 | 2/8 | NFL Pro Bowl | ESPN | 6,359 |
| 5 | 12/30 | Holiday Bowl | ESPN | 6,286 |
| 6 | 1/30 | Monk | USA | 6,267 |
| 7 | 3/5 | SpongeBob | Nick | 5,957 |
| 8 | 1/16 | Monk | USA | 5,952 |
| 9 | 1/19 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Nick | 5,659 |
| 10 | 3/22 | WWE | Spike | 5,658 |
| 11 | 3/22 | WWE | Spike | 5,628 |
| 12 | 1/23 | Monk | USA | 5,613 |
| 13 | 2/13 | Monk | USA | 5,596 |
| 14 | 1/1 | Outback Bowl | ESPN | 5,557 |
| 15 | 2/6 | Monk | USA | 5,517 |
| 16 | 3/5 | Monk | USA | 5,506 |
| 17 | 3/5 | SpongeBob SquarePants | Nick | 5,398 |
| 18 | 1/20 | State of the Union Analysis | Fox News | 5,326 |
| 19 | 1/20 | State of the Union | Fox News | 5,181 |
| 20 | 2/22 | Fairly Odd Parents | Nick | 5,117 |
Total Viewers 2+ (000)
| Network | 2004 | 2003 | Chg. |
| USA | 2426 | 1900 | 28% |
| TNT | 2410 | 2332 | 3% |
| Nick | 2289 | 2170 | 5% |
| TBS | 1927 | 1945 | -1% |
| Lifetime | 1659 | 1835 | -10% |
| Cartoon | 1589 | 1661 | -4% |
| Fox News | 1394 | 2165 | -36% |
| Discovery | 1367 | 1078 | 27% |
| ESPN | 1360 | 1143 | 19% |
| Sci Fi | 1297 | 1190 | 9% |
Adults 18-34 (000)
| Network | 2004 | 2003 | Chg. |
| MTV | 532 | 484 | 10% |
| TBS | 492 | 489 | 1% |
| TNT | 481 | 467 | 3% |
| USA | 412 | 415 | -1% |
| Discovery | 387 | 232 | 67% |
| Comedy | 343 | 309 | 11% |
| TLC | 315 | 320 | -2% |
| Nick | 308 | 263 | 17% |
| Spike | 297 | 293 | 1% |
| ESPN | 272 | 234 | 16% |
Adults 18-49 (000)
| Network | 2004 | 2003 | Chg. |
| TNT | 1105 | 1105 | 0% |
| USA | 1038 | 918 | 13% |
| TBS | 1025 | 1020 | 0% |
| Discovery | 776 | 537 | 45% |
| TLC | 690 | 727 | -5% |
| MTV | 677 | 617 | 10% |
| Lifetime | 675 | 707 | -5% |
| Spike TV | 615 | 580 | 6% |
| ESPN | 605 | 504 | 20% |
| Sci Fi | 592 | 607 | -2% |
Adults 25-54 (000)
| Network | 2004 | 2003 | Chg. |
| TNT | 1201 | 1177 | 2% |
| USA | 1165 | 927 | 26% |
| TBS | 1014 | 1020 | -1% |
| Discovery | 775 | 571 | 36% |
| Lifetime | 730 | 831 | -12% |
| Sci Fi | 699 | 689 | 1% |
| TLC | 696 | 756 | -8% |
| ESPN | 610 | 509 | 20% |
| Spike | 592 | 541 | 9% |
| History | 559 | 456 | 23% |
Kids 2-11 (000)
| Network | 2004 | 2003 | Chg. |
| Nick | 1204 | 1086 | 11% |
| Cartoon | |
945 | -6% |
| TBS | 138 | 151 | -9% |
| Toon Disney | 131 | 138 | -5% |
| ABC Family | 107 | 82 | 30% |
| TNT | 100 | 100 | 0% |
| Spike | 88 | 92 | -4% |
| Animal Planet | 86 | 104 | -17% |
| Sci Fi | 84 | 68 | 24% |
| USA | 83 | 131 | -37% |
