REMEMBER THE WATERBOY.(USA Networks Inc. and Lifetime Cable Network are in close competition for prime time ratings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Broadcasting & Cable, July, 2001 by Romano, Allison

The next time network executives say they don't care about Nielsen household numbers, remember The Waterboy. With the second quarter almost over, Lifetime and USA Network brass are 'angsting' over who will win the neck-and-neck race in prime time. Lifetime wants to claim its second-consecutive victory in quarterly household ratings. But USA Last Thursday abruptly yanked Demi Noore flick Indecent Proposal from its Sunday schedule and substituted its fifth run in two weeks of Adam Sandler comedy The Waterboy (which scored a huge 5.0 in one, of its airings).

Rounding the numbers could leave them tied at a 1.8. At press time Lifetime was a few hundredths ahead of that, USA a few hundredths behind. Despite the last-second lunge, USA contends strong demos will...

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