TNT Scores Weekly Cable Ratings Win

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TNT’s National Basketball Association playoffs coverage helped propel the network to the top of the weekly cable primetime ratings charts last week, according to Nielsen.

TNT averaged 3.2 million viewers during the week of May 6 to May 12, topping Fox News’ 2.3 million primetime viewers, said Nielsen. ESPN, which also featured NBA Playoffs coverage, finished third with 1.8 million viewers, followed by MSNBC (1.7 million viewers) and HGTV (1.1 million.)

NBC Sports Network skated to a sixth place tie with USA Network on the strength of its NHL postseason coverage. A&E Network, History and Hallmark Channel rounded out the top 10 most watched networks in primetime last week, said Nielsen.

Fox News remained hot on a total day basis, averaging 1.3 million viewers to finish first ahead of YNT, its 18th consecutive weekly win. MSNBC, ESPN and HGTV finished well behind Fox News for the week, 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.