DEAD ZONE AND MONK MAKE USA A SUCCESS
One of the top stories on Electronic Media Online talks about what makes a hit on cable.
How great shows, boost ratings and what ratings do for both the show and the stations/networks they air on.

Current cable hits include FX's "The Shield," MTV's "The Osbournes," USA's "Monk and "Dead Zone," E!'s "The Anna Nicole Show," Nickelodeon's "SpongeBob SquarePants" and the aforementioned "Trading Spaces." These are shows that are not only generating water cooler talk but also positively impacting their networks' bottom lines.

USA was a stronger No. 1 this past summer, thanks to "Monk" and "Dead Zone," said Jack Wakshlag, chief research officer with Turner Networks. USA grew 171,000 homes in the 18 to 49 demographic, and 74,000 of those homes are attributable to the new shows, he said. In 2001 USA's lead on No. 2 network TNT in adults 18 to 49 was only 5,000 last summer; this summer it was 100,000, he said.