Weekly Cable Ratings: Israel-Hamas War Coverage Propels Fox News in Primetime

Fox News' 'Cavuto Live'
Fox News' 'Cavuto Live' (Image credit: Fox News)

Fox News Channel topped both the primetime and total-day basic cable ratings for the first week of November, led by its ongoing coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.

Fox News averaged 1.8 million viewers in primetime for the week of October 30 to November 5, besting last week’s leader, ESPN, which finished second with 1.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen numbers supplied by Fox News.

MSNBC finished third with 1.1 million viewers, followed by Hallmark Channel’s 1 million viewers and HGTV’s 754,000 watchers. USA Network pulled into sixth place with 606,000 viewers, followed by Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (604,000 viewers), INSP (577,000), TLC (577,000), and CNN and TBS (tied with 554,000).

Fox News was the most watched network on a 24-hour basis for the sixth straight week with 1.2 million viewers, followed by MSNBC (822,000 viewers), ESPN (764,000), Hallmark Channel (583,000), and CNN (492,000).   

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.