TNT Dunks Another Weekly Primetime Ratings Win

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

TNT ran its weekly primetime cable ratings winning streak to five on the strength of its NBA playoffs coverage, according to Nielsen. 

TNT averaged 2.6 million viewers during the week of May 14-20 to top all cable networks, according to Nielsen. Fox News tied for second with NBA playoffs-infused ESPN at 2.3 million viewers.

MSNBC was distant fourth at 1.7 million viewers, followed by USA Network (1.3 million viewers), HGTV (1.1 million), NBCSN and TBS (tied with 1 million), History (999,000) and CNN (937,000).

Fox News was tops on a 24-hour basis for the 19th consecutive week, followed by MSNBC, TNT, Nickelodeon 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.