HBO has strong week, showing signs that its ratings slump may be over

NEW YORK (AP) — There’s life after “The Sopranos” and “Sex and the City” for HBO.

The struggling pay cable network seems to have broken out of a slump. Its vampire series “True Blood” is gaining steam in its second season. On Sunday it had its biggest audience ever for a new episode with 3.9 million viewers.

The comedy “Hung” did well, too. Nielsen Media Research says it had 29 percent more viewers for its second episode. It’s considered unusual for a series to grow so substantially from a series debut.

Otherwise, it was a slow week for broadcasters. NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” has established itself as a summer hit, and CBS continues to do well with is drama reruns.