Weekly Cable Ratings: Fox News Continues Ratings Momentum

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

HGTV most-watched entertainment network in primetime

Fox News' Martha MacCallum
(Image credit: Fox News)

Fox News continued its hot April ratings run, taking the top spots in primetime and on a total day basis last week.

Fox News averaged 2.2 million viewers in primetime for the week of April 12 to April 18 for its ninth straight weekly win, according to Nielsen. MSNBC finished in second place with 1.5 million viewers, followed by HGTV’s 1.3 million viewers and CNN’s 1 million watchers.

TBS finished in fifth place with 940,000 viewers, followed by Hallmark Channel (903,000), ESPN (872,000), History (844,000), Discovery Channel (809,000) and Food Network (805,000), said Nielsen.

Fox News finished first on a total day basis with 1.2 million viewers, paced by its April 17 morning coverage of Prince Philip Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, which drew 2.3 million viewers. MSNBC, CNN, HGTV and Hallmark Channel rounded out the top five most watched networks in the category, 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.