TNT

Propelled by the 2012 NBA Playoffs, TNT ranked as basic cable's #1 network for the month of May in primetime delivery of viewers and all key adult demos. The network also topped key adult demos in total day in May.

The 2012 NBA Playoffs on TNT accounted for three of basic cable's most-watched programs in May. The May 21 matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder led the way with more than 8.1 million viewers, followed by the May 27 Oklahoma City Thunder/San Antonio Spurs contest with 7.8 million viewers and the May 16 game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder with 7.4 million.

Sunday night's Game 1 of the 2012 Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. San Antonio Spurs delivered a 4.8 U.S. household rating, with 5,542,000 households and 7,764,000 viewers to become the most-viewed and highest-rated Western Conference Finals Game 1 ever. Compared with Game 1 of the 2011 WCF (Thunder vs. Mavs), the 2012 WCF opener was up +12% in rating (vs. 4.3) and +11% in households (vs. 4,981,000) and viewers (vs. 6,982,000). Compared to the 2010 WCF Game 1 (Lakers vs. Suns), the 2012 WCF Game 1 was up +9% in rating (vs. 4.4), +11% in households (vs. 5,012,000) and +9% in viewers.

Since the beginning of the 2012 NBA Playoffs, TNT has topped the charts 19 times as ad-supported cable's top network for the night adults 18-34, adults 18-49, adults 25-54, men 18-49 and men 25-54.

Source: Nielsen Media Research. Based on Live+SD. All Ad-Supported Cable Telecasts, Total Day; (4/28/2012- 5/3/2012, 5/5/2012-5/10/2012, 5/12/2012, 5/14/2012-5/16/2012, 5/19/2012-5/22/2012, 5/27/2012).

Adult Swim

Across May 2012, Adult Swim ranked as television's #1 network for Total Day Delivery of young adults 18-34 & 18-24, as well as men 18-34 & 18-24. In Prime Time, Adult Swim also ranked #3 among basic cable networks for delivery of adults 18-34. In a month dominated by NBA basketball, Adult Swim programming still accounted for 5 of the top 50 telecasts of the month on basic cable among adults 18-34.

Among Adult Swim original programming, Eagleheart (Thursdays, 12 a.m.) and Metalocalypse (Sundays, 12:15 a.m.) ranked #1 in their respective time periods among all adults 18-34, 18-49 & 18-24, and men 18-34 & 18-24. Similarly, American Dad (Fridays, 10 p.m.), Loiter Squad (Sundays, 11:30 p.m.) and Bleach (Saturdays, 12 a.m.) each ranked #1 in their respective time periods among adults 18-34 & 18-24, and men 18-34 & 18-24.

The series premiere of Deadman Wonderland (Saturday, May 26, 12:30 a.m.) was #1 in its time period among adults 18-24 (up 14% vs. the 2011 time period), men 18-34 and men 18-24 (up 2%). Immediately following, the series premiere of Casshern Sins (1 a.m.) ranked #1 in the time period among men 18-34 & 18-24.

TBS

TBS scored basic cable's #1 original sitcom and #1 acquired sitcom for the month of May. The network's new original sitcom Men at Work, which premiered last Thursday with back-to-back episodes, ranked as basic cable's top original sitcom in May, averaging 2.5 million viewers and 1.5 million adults 18-49. Meanwhile, The Big Bang Theory on TBS led the pack of acquired sitcoms on basic cable in May, averaging 2.5 million viewers and 1.4 million adults 18-49.

Last week, TBS's late-night series CONAN brought in 1 million viewers in Live + Same Day, up +20% over the same week last year. The show also delivered 352,000 adults 18-34 (+8% over last year) and 654,000 adults 18-49 (+16%). Last week's episodes also outranked the prior week of premieres by 3% among viewers and 4% among key adult demos. Overall for May 2012, CONAN's Live + Same Day audience was up +5% compared to May 2011.

Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network in May 2012 ranked as television's #1 network for early prime (7-9 p.m.) delivery of boys 2-11, 6-11 & 9-14. Monthly average growth among targeted kid demos vs. May 2011 include kids 6-11 (up 1%, 652,000) and kids 9-14 (up 8%, 505,000). Total Day delivery in May 2012 also grew among kids 6-11 (up 3%, 357,000) and kids 9-14 (up 13%, 290,000).

Also across May, Cartoon Network ranked as the #1 television network (broadcast & cable) among kids (2-11, 6-11, 9-14) and boys on Monday night. Cartoon Network again ranked #1 among all boys on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday nights; and #1 among boys 2-11 & 6-11 on Saturday and Sunday nights (7-9 p.m.). Both Wednesday and Friday nights posted double-digit delivery gains among all kids demos, ranging between 19% and 42% vs. May averages in 2011.

Among its original animated comedy series, Regular Show (all telecasts factored) scored as the #1 program of the month among boys 6-11. Additionally, Adventure Time ranked as the #1 program on Mondays among kids 6-11 & 9-14 and all boy demos. MAD on Mondays (8:30 p.m.) was #1 in its time period among kids 6-11 & 2-11 and all boy demos. Moreover, the April 30 telecast of Adventure Time (7:30 p.m.) was the #1 telecast of the month among boys 6-11 & 9-14; the May 5 telecast of Regular Show (8 p.m.) was the #1 telecast of the month among boys 2-11.

On Tuesday nights, original series The Amazing World of Gumball (7:30 p.m.) scored as the #1 telecast in its time period among kids 2-11 and all boys 6-11, 2-11 and 9-14 - it also scored double-digit delivery growth among kids 6-11 (up 11%, 763,000) and kids 9-14 (up 28%, 565,000) compared to May 2011. Similarly, Level Up (8 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among kids 6-11 and all boys on all TV; and #1 among kids 9-14 on basic cable. And on Wednesday nights, Ninjago (8 p.m.) ranked #1 in its time period among kids 6-11 and all boy demos across May 2012, earning between 29% and 60% growth vs. May 2011.

Additionally, Saturday mornings overall (6:30-11 a.m.) earned gains among kids 2-11 & 9-14, and boys 2-11 & 9-14. Action-adventure animated series Thundercats (9:30 a.m.), Green Lantern (10 a.m.) and Young Justice: Invasion (10:30 a.m.) scored delivery gains across all kids, ranging between 3% and 34% vs. the same time period last year.

truTV

truTV continues to attract a younger male demographic, with May 2012 now ranking as the network's best May primetime performance ever among men 18-34 (120,000). In setting its new personal best, truTV grew the demo by 6% compared to May 2011.

The month also ranked as truTV's youngest May ever, with a primetime median age of 41. That's younger than such non-fiction competitors as Discovery (43), A&E (46) and History (50).

Hardcore Pawn (Tuesdays at 9 and 9:30 p.m.) ranked among ad-supported cable's Top 5 programs in its timeslots in total audience delivery (2.3 million viewers), as well as among key adult and male demos. The show also scored double-digit growth for its timeslot compared to the same weeks last year.

truTV's recently renewed South Beach Tow (Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m.), which averaged 1.5 million viewers in May and ranked among ad-supported cable's Top 5 entertainment programs in its timeslot with key adult and male demos. The show also scored double-digit time-period growth across the board and reduced the median age for the timeslot by four years compared to last year.