TV fortunes

I was doing a little research to find out if the two TV series that I watched over the summer would be returning. Their situation illustrates the difference between network and cable TV.

The new cable series (on the USA Network) In Plain Sight is considered a hit with about 5 million weekly viewers:

The pilot episode of In Plain Sight attracted 5.3 million viewers, making it USA Network's highest-rated series premiere since Psych in 2006. It also outperformed the previous summer's debut of Burn Notice by 32% and the network premiere of Law & Order: Criminal Intent by 40%.

Meanwhile, the CBS drama, Swingtown, is considered a flop with even more people watching:

Low ratings for the first seven episodes — the seven Thursday night episodes averaged 6.7 million viewers and a 2.3 rating in adults 18-49 — led CBS to move the series from Thursdays to Fridays.