Fox News and ESPN were the big winners in the cable ratings race during the month of October, according to Nielsen.

ESPN, on the strength of its Monday Night Football telecasts, averaged 2.8 million viewers for the period of Sept. 30 to Oct. 27 to top all cable networks in primetime, according to Nielsen. Fox News was second with 2.6 million viewers, followed by MSNBC with 1.9 million and TBS with 1.7 million watchers.

Major League Baseball playoffs-infused Fox Sports 1 finished fifth with 1.4 million viewers, followed by CNN (1.2 million viewers), TLC (1.1 million), HGTV (999,000), Hallmark Channel (899,000) and A&E Network (842,000), said Nielsen.

Fox News was the most watched cable network on a total day basis for the 40th consecutive month with 1.4 million viewers, followed by MSNBC with 1.1 million viewers. ESPN, CNN and TBS Network rounded out the top five list of most watched cable networks in October on a 24-hour basis.

Fox News Channel continued its domination of the cable network ratings race with a sweep of the October primetime and total day charts, according to Nielsen.

Fox News was the most watched cable network among total viewers for the month (Oct. 1-28), averaging 2.8 million viewers, said Nielsen. The win marked Fox News’ fifth consecutive primetime monthly ratings win.

ESPN finished second for 2.6 million viewers, followed by TBS Network (2.4 million), MSNBC (1.5 million), and FS1 (1.3 million).

USA Network, Hallmark Channel and HGTV (all tied with 1.1 million), CNN (931,000) and TNT (911 million) rounded out the top 10.

Fox News also finished first on a total day basis for the 28th consecutive month, followed by ESPN, MSNBC, Nickelodeon, TBS and Hallmark Channel, according to Nielsen.