Fox News Captures Top Weekly Cable Ratings Slot

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Fox News took top primetime ratings honors last week as President Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremonies last Friday proved to be a ratings boondoggle for the major cable news networks.

Fox News averaged 3.9 million viewers, topping competing cable news network CNN for first place during the week of Jan. 16 to Jan. 22, according to Nielsen. Fox News’ Jan. 20 coverage of President Trump’s inauguration ceremonies also accounted for 14 of the top 15 most watched shows for the week, Nielsen said.

HGTV finished third for the week with 1.6 million viewers, followed by USA Network’s 1.5 million viewers.

Discovery Channel and MSNBC tied for fifth with 1.4 million viewers each, followed by TBS and History (tied with 1.3 million viewers each); TNT (1.2 million) and Investigation Discovery, ESPN and Disney Channel (all tied with 1.1 million viewers), according to Nielsen.

Fox News was also the most watched network on a 24-hour basis for the week, while TBS was the top choice among adults 18-49, 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.