The cable news networks remained strong from a ratings perspective in April, finishing among the top three most watched networks on a total day basis for the month, according to Nielsen.

Fox News led the pack with 1.2 million viewers during the period of March 29 to April 25, followed by MSNBC with 953,000 and CNN with 786,000 viewers, according to Nielsen. Ratings from all three networks however, were down double-digits compared to the same period last year, said Nielsen.

HGTV finished fourth with 660,000 viewers, and ESPN finished fifth with 491,000 viewers.

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In primetime, Fox News averaged 2.2 million viewers in April to lead all networks, followed by MSNBC’s 1.5 million viewers and HGTV’s 1.2 million watchers. TBS pulled into fourth place with 1.1 million viewers, followed by CNN and ESPN, which tied with 1 million viewers. Hallmark Channel (882,000), History (870,000), TNT (786,000) and Discovery Channel (785,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks in primetime during the month, Nielsen said. 

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Fox News was the big cable ratings winner in April, setting a network monthly primetime ratings record while leading a dominant performance by the three major cable news networks, according to Nielsen.

Fox News averaged a network record 3.6 million viewers in primetime for the period of March 30 to April 26, easily topping MSNBC’s 2 million viewers for the month, according to Nielsen. CNN finished third in primetime with 1.9 million viewers, giving the  major cable news networks the top three slots in primetime for two months in a row amid their continuing coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

HGTV and TLC finished tied for fourth place with 1.2 million viewers, followed by ESPN, History and TBS (tied with 1 million viewers). Hallmark Channel (985,000 viewers) and A&E Network (939,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched cable networks in primetime for April.

The three cable news networks also finished atop the total day ratings chart for April, led by Fox News’s 2.2 million viewers. CNN, MSNBC, HGTV, Food Network and Hallmark Channel all finished in the top five within the category, said Nielsen. 

Fox News carried its dominance of the weekly ratings charts into April, taking both the primetime and total day crowns for the first full week of April.

Fox News averaged 3.5 million viewers for the week of April 6 to April 12 to top all cable networks, according to Nielsen. MSNBC finished second with 1.9 million viewers, with CNN holding the third spot with 1.8 million watchers.

HGTV tied with TLC and History for fourth with 1.1 million viewers, said Nielsen. TBS and A&E network tied for seventh, while Hallmark Channel (948,000 viewers) and Food Network (905,000) rounded out the top 10.

On the total day side, Fox News averaged 2.2 million viewers to top all networks, followed by CNN, MSNBC, HGTV, Food Network and Hallmark Channel, said Nielsen.