Fox News, CNN Dominate Weekly Cable Ratings

Fox News and CNN were the choice of cable viewers last week as the most watched networks during election week, according to Nielsen.

Fox News finished first in primetime during the week of Nov. 7 to Nov. 13, averaging 4.9 million viewers. CNN finished second with 3.2 million watchers, according to Nielsen.

ESPN was a distant third with 2.5 million, followed by Hallmark’s 2.0 million viewers and MSNBC’s 1.9 million viewers.

AMC (1.4 million viewers), USA Network and TBS (tied with 1.3 million) and HGTV, Discovery Channel and Disney Channel (all tied with 1.1 million) rounded out the top 10.

Fox News and CNN also finished first and second respectively on a 24-hour basis, followed by Nickelodeon, MSNBC and Hallmark Channel.

Most Watched Shows For The Week Of Nov. 7-13

Most Watched Cable Shows For Nov. 8 (by hour)

  Show                                             Network                            Time Period         Total Viewers

America's Election HQ                    Fox News                         12 am -1 am         15.4 million

America's Election HQ                   Fox News                          11 pm-12 am        14.5million

Election Night In America              CNN                                   10 pm-11 pm       14.0million

Eleciton Night In America              CNN                                   11 pm-12am        13.9 million

Election Night In America              CNN                                    9 pm-10 pm        13.7 million

America's Election HQ                  Fox News                           10 pm-11 pm       13.0 million

America’s Election HQ                Fox News                               1 am-2am          13.0 million

America’s Election HQ                Fox News                             9pm-10 pm          12.2 million

Election Night In America            CNN                                    8 pm-9 pm            11.9 million

Election Night In America           CNN                                    12 am-1am            11.8 million

Source: Nielsen

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.