Weekly Cable Ratings: MSNBC Sweeps Primetime, Total Day Charts

By R. Thomas Umstead
last updated

HGTV, TNT tops among entertainment nets in primetime

MSNBC logo
(Image credit: MSNBC)

MSNBC was the most watched cable network in both primetime and total day during a week that featured coverage of the second Impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, according to Nielsen.

MSNBC averaged 2.5 million viewers in primetime during the week of Feb. 8 to Feb. 14, besting fellow cable news networks Fox News (2.5 million) and CNN (2 million), according to Nielsen. TNT averaged 1.1 million viewers to finish fourth, while HGTV (1 million viewers) followed closely behind.

MSNBC also topped the total day ratings race with 1.7 million viewers, outdistancing CNN (1.5 million viewers), Fox News (1.3 million), HGTV (681,000) and Hallmark Channel (567,000), reported 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.