25 Most Valuable Networks

Signature Show: Sportscenter
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $6.9 billion
Estimated Value: $25.6 billion
Executive in Charge: George Bodenheimer
Corporate Owner: Disney

Jeff Roberson / AP Photo

Signature Show: SpongeBob SquarePants
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $1.9 billion
Estimated Value: $17.2 billion
Executive in Charge: Marjorie Cohn
Corporate Owner: Viacom

Nickelodeon

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Signature Show: The Closer
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $2.1 billion
Estimated Value: $13 billion
Executive in Charge: Michael Wright
Corporate Owner: Time Warner

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Signature Show: The O’Reilly Factor
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $1.5 billion
Estimated Value: $11.4 billion
Executive in Charge: Roger Ailes
Corporate Owner: News Corp.

Kathy Willens / AP Photo

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Signature Show: Conan (debuts in November)
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $1.4 billion
Estimated Value: $9.6 billion
Executive in Charge: Michael Wright
Corporate Owner: Time Warner

TBS

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Signature Show: Hannah Montana
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $1.2 billion
Estimated Value: $9.3 billion
Executive in Charge: Gary Marsh
Corporate Owner: Disney

Walt Disney Channel

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Signature Show: Burn Notice
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $1.6 billion
Estimated Value: $7.7 billion
Executive in Charge: Bonnie Hammer
Corporate Owner: NBC Universal (soon to be Comcast)

USA

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Signature Show: Jersey Shore
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $1.2 billion
Estimated Value: $7 billion
Executive in Charge: Tony DiSanto
Corporate Owner: Viacom

MTV

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Signature Show: Shark Week; Deadliest Catch
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $917 million
Estimated Value: $7 billion
Executive in Charge: John Ford
Corporate Owner: Discovery Communications

Discovery Channel

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Signature Show: 1st and 10
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $981 million
Estimated Value: $6.9 billion
Executive in Charge: Scott Guglielmino
Corporate Owner: Disney

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Signature Show: Sons of Anarchy
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $936 million
Estimated Value: $6.2 billion
Executive in Charge: John Landgraf
Corporate Owner: News Corp.

FX

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Signature Show: Anderson Cooper 360
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $1.2 billion
Estimated Value: $6.1 billion
Executive in Charge: TBD
Corporate Owner: Time Warner

AP Photo

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Signature Show: HGTV Design Star
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $668 million
Estimated Value: $4.9 billion
Executive in Charge: Kathleen Finch
Corporate Owner: Scripps Networks Interactive

Signature Show: The Next Food Network Star
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $602 million
Estimated Value: $4.5 billion
Executive in Charge: Bob Tuschman
Corporate Owner: Scripps Networks Interactive

Food Network

Signature Show: Squawk on the Street
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $715 million
Estimated Value: $4.4 billion
Executive in Charge: Mark Hoffman
Corporate Owner: NBC Universal (soon to be Comcast)

CNBC

Signature Show: Army Wives
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $916 million
Estimated Value: $3.7 billion
Executive in Charge: Nancy Duboc
Corporate Owners: Disney and Hearst

Lifetime

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Signature Show: Camp Lazlo
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $617 million
Estimated Value: $3.4 billion
Executive in Charge: Stacy Isenhower
Corporate Owner: Time Warner

The Cartoon Network

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Signature Show: Mad Men
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $496 million
Estimated Value: $3.4 billion
Executive in Charge: Charlie Collier
Corporate Owner: Cablevision

AMC

Signature Show: Secret Life of the American Teenager
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $598 million
Estimated Worth: $3.3 billion
Executive in Charge: Michael Riley
Corporate Owner: Disney

ABC Family

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Signature Show: Kate Plus 8
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $472 million
Estimated Value: $3.3 billion
Executive in Charge: Eileen O’Neill
Corporate Owner: Discovery Communications

TLC

Signature Show: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $663 million
Estimated Value: $3.2 billion
Executive in Charge: Michelle Ganeless
Corporate Owner: Viacom

Comedy Central

Signature Show: Real Housewives
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $530 million
Estimated Value: $3.2 billion
Executive in Charge: Lauren Zalaznick
Corporate Owner: NBC Universal (soon to be Comcast)

Bravo

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Signature Show: The Wendy Williams Show
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $493 million
Estimated Value: $3.1 billion
Executive in Charge: Loretha Jones
Corporate Owner: Viacom

BET

Signature Show: Pawn Stars
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $646 million
Estimated Value: $3 billion
Executive in Charge: Nancy Duboc
Corporate Owners: Disney and Hearst

History Channel

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Signature Show: Intervention
Estimated 2010 Revenue: $742 million
Estimated Value: $3 billion
Executive in Charge: Abbe Raven
Corporate Owners: Disney and Hearst

A&E

25 Most Valuable Networks

As the TV networks crumble, cable—with shows like Mad Men, Jersey Shore, and Burn Notice—has become the cash cow they once were. Peter Lauria ranks cable’s most valuable.