‘HANNAH Montana,” the Disney Channel teen fave, has joined an elite club – cable shows that draw bigger audiences than network TV shows.
This past weekend, it attracted a record-breaking 7.4 million viewers. It joins the likes of TNT’s “The Closer” (at 8.8 million) and “The Sopranos” (nearly 12 million) as cable shows that have outdrawn network shows airing at the same time.
The show’s success is mostly due to its smart-alecky star, Miley Cyrus, who plays high school student Miley Stewart who becomes rockstar Hannah Montana at night.
“It is the ultimate teenage fantasy,” says Gary Marsh, head of entertainment for the Disney Channel. “Being able to have the perks of being a superstar and still being able to live a teenage life, what kid wouldn’t want that?”