Weekly Cable Ratings: TNT Scores Second Straight Primetime Ratings Win

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Fox News extends total day ratings streak to 16 weeks

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers is fouled by Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns as he spins in the second quarter during game six of the Western Conference first round series at Staples Center on June 3, 2021 in Los Angeles, California.
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers is fouled by Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns as he spins in the second quarter during game six of the Western Conference first round series at Staples Center on June 3, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Image credit: Harry How/Getty Images)

TNT earned its second straight primetime cable ratings win last week on the strength of its NBA playoffs coverage, according to Nielsen. 

TNT averaged 2.4 million viewers for the week of May 31 to June 6 to top Fox News’s 1.9 million viewers, said Nielsen. The network was paced by its coverage of the June 3 Phoenix Suns-Los Angeles Lakers Game Six playoffs telecast, which generated 4.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

MSNBC and HGTV tied for third with 1.2 million viewers, followed by ESPN with 1 million watchers. TBS (935,000), NBCSN (912,000), Hallmark Channel (816,000), TLC (807,000) and Discovery Channel (790,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched cable networks in primetime.

Fox News earned its 16th consecutive win in total day, averaging 1.1 million viewers, followed by TNT (802,000), MSNBC (751,000), HGTV (658,000) and CNN and ESPN (tied with 554,000), 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.