TNT Slam Dunks May Primetime Cable Ratings Win

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

TNT rode its coverage of the NBA Playoffs to a first place primetime ratings finish among cable networks during the month of May, according to Nielsen.

TNT averaged 2.5 million total viewers in primetime during the period of April 29 through May 26 to top all cable networks, said Nielsen. Fox News finished second with 2.3 million, followed by NBA Playoffs-infused ESPN with 1.8 million viewers.

MSNBC fourth with 1.6 million viewers, followed by HGTV’s 1.1 million watchers.

USA Network (1.0 million viewers) Hallmark Channel and TBS (tied with 949,000), History (948,000) and A&E (917,000) all finished among the top 10 most watched networks for the month.

Fox News extended its dominance of the monthly total day cable ratings chart to 35 straight wins, according to Nielsen. MSNBC, TNT, ESPN and HGTV also finished among the top five-rated networks in the category. 

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.