During the three-hour block beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, the new Oprah Winfrey Network averaged 1 million viewers, according to preliminary Nielsen Co. figures.
Cable networks have been challenging broadcasters’ hold on TV viewers for years, but the big networks’ lackluster fall is proof of a new parity. Nielsen figures show the Big 4 and basic cable gained 1% in 2010 as overall viewing continues to rise to a record 34 hours a week. But the fall season has been less kind: Fox is down 15% and ABC is off 5%, offsetting smaller gains by CBS and NBC.
Ratings are the best revenge. And if these numbers hold, “Conan” had a very sweet debut for TBS. Conan’s new TBS show scored a 2.8 rating among Nielsen’s 56 metered markets. In contrast, Leno earned a 2.7 rating, Letterman drew 2.5, and Kimmel received a 1.7.
New contract with Midcontinent Communications provides additional intelligence on set-top box viewing behavior.
