Cable is in the movie business like never before. While broadcasters focus on splashy reality fare and dramas, cable polishes the gem they once mined: the original TV movie. Next month, ESPN will trace Pete Rose's fall from baseball with biopic Hustle. Lifetime offers new romantic comedy I Do (but I Don't), and A&E's Riverman, airing Labor Day Weekend, follows the Green River serial killer. Already, two cable powerhouses have posted near record ratings for recent movies. TNT's two-part thriller Salem's Lot grabbed nearly 6 million viewers in June. A&E shattered network ratings records with Ike: Countdown to D-Day, snagging 5.5 million viewers.
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