USA top cable channel in 2009, CNN slides

USA's drama-series hit factory (In Plain Sight, Monk) grew along with True Blood-fueled pay network HBO (+41%), and BET (+23%), the latter boosted by its coverage of Michael Jackson's death. Food Network (+26%) cooked up a good year, Jon & Kate helped TLC (+18%) and sophomore hit Sons of Anarchy aided FX (+10%).

On the downside, CNN (-30%) fell more than any other cable network. Lifetime, despite gaining sampling with Project Runway, dropped sharply (-20%), as did competitor Hallmark (-18%). Several MTV Networks brands slumped, with SpikeTV (-17%), Comedy Central (-10%) and MTV (-10%) down.

Here's how the cable networks stacked up this year in primetime:

TOTAL VIEWERS

USA - 3.28 million average viewers, +15%

DISNEY - 2.53 million, +6%

TNT - 2.25 million, +2%

ESPN - 2.25 million, +9%

FOX NEWS - 2.21 million, +7%

TBS - 1.84 million, -7%

NICK AT NIGHT - 1.73 million, +2%

A&E - 1.47 million, +8%

FX - 1.37 million, +10%

ABC FAMILY - 1.35 million, +4%

CARTOON - 1.30 million, -3%

SYFY - 1.27 million, -0%

DISCOVERY - 1.25 million, +4%

HISTORY - 1.21 million, +3%

HGTV - 1.20 million, +9%

LIFETIME - 1.19 million, -20%

FOOD - 1.12 million, +26%

HALLMARK - 1.10 million, -18%

TRUTV - 1.09 million, +0%

TLC - 1.07 million, +18%

SPIKE - 1.06 million, -17%

AMC - 1.04 million, -6%

COMEDY CENTRAL - 992,000, -10%

CNN - 908,000, -30%

MSNBC - 817,000, -12%

MTV - 807,000, -10%

BRAVO - 796,000, +6%

BET - 777,000, +23%

VH1 - 744,000, +0%

TVLAND - 720,000, -8%

ESPN2 - 694,000, +8%

HBO - 693,000, +41%

E! - 592,000, +7%

* Average primetime audience, 12/29/08 to 12/20/09 compared to same period last year.