Weekly Cable Ratings: Fox News Regains Top Spot in Primetime

By R. Thomas Umstead
last updated

Cable news network pushes total day streak to 21 weeks

Tucker Carlson Tonight
(Image credit: Fox News)

With TNT and ESPN's coverage of the NBA Playoffs officially over, Fox News returned to the top of the primetime charts last week in a ratings blowout, according to Nielsen.

Fox News averaged 2 million viewers during the week of July 5 to July 11 to top all cable networks and ended basketball-infused TNT’s six-week first place run, said Nielsen. MSNBC and HGTV finished tied for second with 1.2 million viewers.

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Hallmark Channel was fourth with 870,000 viewers, followed by History with 855,000 watchers. CNN (833,000 viewers), INSP (824,000), TNT (803,000), Discovery Channel and TLC (tied with 798,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks in primetime.

Fox News continued its domination of the total day chart, averaging 1.1 million viewers to win for the 21st consecutive week. MSNBC finished second with 752,000 viewers, followed by ESPN (670,000), HGTV (663,000) and CNN (598,000), 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.