USA, HGTV Wrestle for Weekly Ratings Honors

For the second week in a row USA and HGTV finished cable’s weekly ratings race ended in a virtual tie, according to Nielsen.

USA Network and HGTV each drew 1.6 million viewers during the week of June 8 to June 14 to top all cable networks, said Nielsen. USA, HGTV, Disney Channel and Fox News all tied for the top spot last week, which officially ushered in the summer ratings season.

Disney Channel finished third with 1.5 million viewers, followed by Fox News Network and TNT, which finished in a tie with 1.4 million viewers.

TBS and History finished in a tie for sixth, followed by Discovery (1.2 million viewers).  NBC Sports Network, on the strength of its NHL Stanley Cup finals coverage, skated to a tie with Syfy (both with 1.1 million viewers) to round out the top 10.  

Disney Channel was the top choice for viewers on a 24-hour basis, averaging 1.2 million viewers. Fellow kids-and young adult-targeted networks Cartoon Network, Adult Swim and Nickelodeon tied for second with 1.1 million watchers.

HBO’s Game Of Thrones season five finale was the most watched show during the week, averaging 8.1 million viewers. Live sports events and sports entertainment programming from NBCSN, USA and Fox Sports 1 held seven of the top 10 positions among the most watched shows of the week, according to Nielsen.

Most Watched Shows For The Week of June 8 – 14

DateShowNetworkTotal Viewers

6/14                       Game of Thrones                                                            HBO                       8.1 million

6/8                         Major Crimes                                                                  TNT                        3.9 million

6/10                       NHL Stanley Cup Finals                                                  NBCSN                  3.9 million

6/8                         NHL Stanley Cup Finals                                                  NBCSN                  3.8 million

6/8                         WWE Entertainment (8 p.m. to 9 p.m.)                            USA                       3.6 million

6/8                         WWE Entertainment (10 p.m. to 11:14 p.m.)                    USA                       3.6 million

6/12                       Alaskan Bush People                                                     Discovery                3.6 million

6/8                         WWE Entertainment (9 p.m. to 10 p.m.)                          USA                       3.6 million

6/14                       NASCAR Sprint Cup Racing                                           FS1                         3.5 million

6/8                         FIFA Women’s World Cup                                              FS1                         3.3 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.