Fox News Begins December at Top of Cable Ratings Charts

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Fox News finished the first full week of December as the most watched network in primetime and total day, Nielsen said Tuesday.

The news network averaged 2.8 million viewers during the week of Dec. 2 to Dec. 8, besting ESPN’s 2.7 million viewers, reported Nielsen. Fox News was aided by its coverage of the Dec. 4 House Judiciary Committee’s impeachment hearing, for which the network topped all cable coverage during the 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. time period.

Hallmark Channel finished in a tie for third with MSNBC with 1.8 million viewers, followed by A&E Network and TBS with 1 million viewers each. HGTV (981,000 viewers), History (936,000), Discovery Channel (922,000) and Freeform (903,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched cable networks in primetime.

Fox News topped all cable networks on a total day basis for the 48th consecutive week, besting MSNBC, Hallmark Channel, ESPN and CNN, according to Nielsen.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.