SPECIALTY CHANNELS GIVE TV CHANNELS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY
By Adnews Staff
Most conventional TV networks are being whacked by specialty channels since the launch of 16 new specialty channels this fall, according to Nielsen Media Research. Early audience-share numbers for fall show that all network groups except CanWest Global Communications of Winnipeg have lost market share for their conventional TV channels. CTV Television Network has suffered the most. Specialty channels increased their audience share to 25.7% in the first 10 weeks of the fall season, compared to 19.9% during the same period last year. CTV had its share decline 1.6 percentage points to 5.1%. CTV says it lost market share because it didn't have the major league baseball playoffs. Several of the 11 Canadian specialty channels, including Teletoon, Space The Imagination Station, History Television and The Comedy Network, achieved better numbers than the five U.S. specialty services. The data was compiled by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.