Nickelodeon Ratings Woes: Disney Passes The Network In Ratings For The First Time

Nickelodeon is no longer the top kids' network.

Though Nickelodeon once claimed a dip in its ratings was a technical error, it appears as though the network's troubles have not been resolved.

The Wrap reports that Disney passed Nickelodeon in average daily viewers for the first time in history this month as Nick hemorrhaged 31 percent of its viewers over the past year. Disney's viewership also declined, but the network only suffered a 5 percent loss, allowing it to edge out its rival.

Disney topped out at 1.57 million daily viewers. Nickelodeon came in at No. 2 with 1.54 million and USA followed with 1.34 million. (For the top 10, head over to The Wrap).

Nickelodeon had been first in the category for every single month since June of 1995, so Disney's ascension to the No. 1 spot is quite the coup.

Late last year, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman called the networks' ratings troubles an "explicable" "aberration." Viacom is Nickelodeon's parent company.

Experts said Nick's reliance on hit series like "Spongebob SquarePants" is partly to blame, as parents grew tired of the endless re-runs on the site. But executives at the network heard the cry and have planned a slate of new original shows, including a live action program featuring the boy band One Direction. Just yesterday, Nickelodeon announced it had ordered 20 episodes of a comedy featuring Scott Baio.

Do you have fond memories of Nickelodeon and Disney? Let us know which network you think reigns supreme in the comments.

For more on the story, including how Nickelodeon and Viacom's stock has been affected, head over to The Wrap.

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