DEAD ZONE AND MONK WIN # 1 & 2 IN SWEEPS RATINGS

Original programming was the key to cable's success, with a growing number of networks introducing serial hits this year: MTV's "The Osbournes," FX's "The Shield," E!'s "The Anna Nicole Show" and USA's "The Dead Zone" and "Monk," the latter two of which were, respectively, the No. 1- and No. 2-rated original cable series for the year among viewers 18-49.

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The shows success is mentioned once again in this article about Scifi Channels Hit Mini-series Taken.

"The days when viewers went first to the broadcast networks out of inertia are gone forever," said Michael Jackson (news), chairman of Sci Fi owner Universal Television Group. He also pointed to basic-cable series of the past year including FX's "The Shield," MTV's "The Osbournes," and USA's "Monk" and "Dead Zone."