Cable is holding its own, and then some

TV fans aren't ready to cut their cord to cable. Viewers spent a record 17.2 hours per week watching ad-supported cable networks in 2013, rebounding from a slight dip last year, while the big four networks claimed a combined 7.5 hours, another low. "With the growth in on-demand viewing, Hulu and Netflix, you'd think there'd be less viewing of cable TV as a whole," says Turner Broadcasting research chief Jack Wakshlag. "But it's at the highest it's ever been." The gains weren't shared equally, some shows on some networks fared better than others. But half of the top cable networks saw prime-time audience declines. [Dec 31]