Weekly Cable Ratings: CNN Continues Strong Ratings Run

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News networks ride Inauguration coverage to tops spots on primetime, total day charts

CNN headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia
CNN rode its coverage of the inauguration to a first place ratings finish last week (Image credit: John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images)

CNN continued its run at the top of the total day ratings charts last week as the news networks posted strong ratings due in part to coverage of President Joe Biden’s Inauguration ceremonies. 

CNN averaged 2.8 million viewers during the week of Jan. 18-Jan. 24, besting second place MSNBC’s 2.7 million viewers and Fox News’ 2.6 million watchers, according to Nielsen. CNN was led by its Jan. 20 inauguration coverage in which the network averaged 9.9 million viewers during the height of the event between 11:45 a.m to 12:15 p.m., said Nielsen.

TNT finished fourth with 1.1 million viewers and HGTV pulled into fifth place with 1 million viewers.

Read also: Nearly 40 Millions Viewers Watch Joe Biden’s Inauguration

On a total-day basis, CNN topped the charts for the third consecutive week with 2.1 million viewers, followed by MSNBC (1.8 million viewers), Fox News (1.4 million), HGTV (678,000) and Hallmark Channel (578,000), said 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.