TNT Nets Second Straight Weekly Primetime Cable Ratings Win

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

TNT has secured its second straight weekly primetime ratings win, thanks to its coverage of the second round of the NBA Playoffs, according to Nielsen.

TNT averaged 3.1 million viewers to take the top spot during the week of April 30 to May 6, according to Nielsen. Fox News was second with 2.3 million viewers, followed by MSNBC with 1.7 million viewers.

NBC Sports Network’s NHL playoffs coverage and ESPN’s NBA post-season telecasts helped both networks tie for fourth place with 1.3 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

HGTV, USA Network and TBS (all tied with 1.2 million viewers), History (978,000) and Investigation Discovery (930,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks in primetime.

Fox News was the top choice for viewers on a 24-hour basis for the 17 consecutive week, besting TNT, MSNBC, Nickelodeon and HGTV, said network officials. 

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.