Over the course of the strike, cable grew to a 48percentt share, up four points, all of it coming from the hide of the networks.
Aided by the strike, cable executives are looking forward to the summer, when they traditionally schedule new scripted shows to take advantage of the networks' usual reliance on reality shows and repeats.
I said, 'Oh, he's shortening his tow.'" But in fact, the fishing boat had just struck the cable.
Some are claimed by the sea: In 2007, four people were killed in watercraft accidents, including two men who died when their fishing boat struck a cable stretched between a tugboat and a barge near Coney Island.
The former Wall Street Journal reporter Jessica Lessin reported on Monday that Apple "wants to strike deals with cable companies like Time Warner Cable to allow cable subscribers to watch television using an Apple device," and that it is also talking to the networks about a feature "that would allow users to skip ads".
A strike would involve cable splicers, power plant workers, meter readers, repair workers and customer service representatives.
Its flagship nightly newscast, anchored by Mr. Williams, remains first in the ratings, and its in-house production company, called Peacock Productions, continues to strike deals with cable channels that want its programming.
In a letter to the commission, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association said that since the 2001 court decision to strike down the cable ownership limits, the paid television market had become more competitive.
"Strandflex employees have substituted their own, grossly inferior test in which employees cut the cable, strike it on a work table and inspect it visually to see if it has frayed," she said in her suit.
"There were some investors who stated that they were not willing to invest at all and many others who focused on the business and financial implications of strike action," Mr Cable said.
Michael S. Clendenin, a spokesman for Consolidated Edison, said that lightning had apparently struck the 4,000-volt 4,000-voltving a part stripped and dangling.
