Study: Most Popular Cable Nets Not Highest Rated

Cable consumers' favorite channels aren't always the highest rated.

Beta Research demonstrates this point with its 2011 cable subscriber evaluation study, naming Discovery Channel, Food Network, and History the top three favorite networks recently. Beta Research's says the percent of total cable subscribers mentioning five favorite channels gave Discovery a 24% top score; Food Network and History both had a 22% number. Next are some higher-rated cable networks -- ESPN , 21%; TNT , 21%; and USA Network , 21%. Syfy follows at 19%; A&E ,16%; and Comedy Central , 16%. Viewers do give some high-priced networks -- those that cost cable networks the most money -- big value. Beta says ESPN gets a $1.47 value from cable subscribers; ESPNU, $1.37; History is at $1.36; Disney Channel , $1.35; Disney XD , $1.34; ESPN2 ,$1.31; Food Network , $1.30; Discovery Channel , $1.29; and CNN , $1.25.