Still Strutting After All These Years

摘要

Most of NBC's new shows flopped. The network no longer rules Thursday night. Even the once lowly ABC topped NBC during the November sweeps. But the Peacock is still No. 1 where it counts: money. The network will finish 2004 at the top of B&C's annual ranking of the 25 largest TV networks, a slot it has held since 2000. NBC's revenues are growing sharply this year, up by $600 million, or 13.5%, to $5.1 billion. To NBC Chairman Bob Wright, that's what matters. Wright notes that the network business isn't just prime time, that Katie Couric and Jay Leno add a cushion or two. When prime time ad sales get rocky, Today and The Tonight Show help soften the blow.