Latest SpongeBob Installment Scores on Basic Cable

NEW YORK: SpongeBob vs. The Big One pulled in 5.8 million viewers with its April 17 broadcast on Nickelodeon, ranking as the number one kids’ program on basic cable.

The half-hour special the top kids’ show on basic cable for the week of April 13 to 19, with a 142 percent increase in viewership over last year in the same time slot. The episode also garnered triple-digital ratings increases with all core kids and tweens demographics, averaging a 9.4/3.3 million with kids 2 to 11 (up 135 percent); a 9.6/2.0 million kids 6 to 11 (up 113 percent) and a 6.4/1.4 million tweens 9 to 14 (up 121 percent). SpongeBob vs. The Big One was Nickelodeon’s fifth highest-rated telecast with total viewers in 2009, and was the highest-rated SpongeBob telecast in 2009 with all demos.

Penguins of Madagascar has also been pulling in big numbers for Nick. The series was basic cable’s highest-ranking kids’ show this week with total viewers behind SpongeBob SquarePants. The latest episode, which aired April 18 drew 4.9 million total viewers and averaged an 8.1/2.8 million kids 2 to 11 and 8.3/1.8 million kids 6 to 11.