CNN Tops Weekly Cable Ratings Chart

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

A Republican debate once again proved to be ratings gold for a cable news network as CNN rode its coverage of the March 10 Florida GOP debate to a first place weekly primetime ratings win.

CNN’s 3 million average primetime viewers for the week of March 7 to March 13 bested Fox News’ 2.4 million viewers to top all cable networks, according to Nielsen. 

HGTV was the third most watched cable network in prime time with 1.7 million viewers, followed by AMC, USA Network and TBS, all tied with 1.6 million viewers.

Disney Channel (1.4 million viewers) finished sixth for the week while ESPN, TNT, History and Discovery Channel (all tied with 1.2 million viewers) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for the week.

Fox News did push its streak of weekly ratings wins on a 24-hour basis to eight, besting Nickelodeon, Adult swim, CNN and Disney in that order, 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.