Fox News Notches Fifth Straight Ratings Win

Fox News once again flexed its ratings muscles in winning its fifth straight primetime and total day weekly ratings race, according to Nielsen.

Riding its 2016 Presidential campaign coverage, Fox News averaged 2.1 million viewers to slide by USA Network’s 1.9 million viewers to secure the top spot. AMC, bolstered by the return of it monster series hit The Walking Dead, finished third with 1.8 million viewers, followed by HGTV’s 1.6 million viewers and TBS’ 1.5 million watchers.

ESPN (1.4 million), CNN, Discovery Channel and Disney Channel (tied with 1.3 million), and TNT and History (tied with 1.2 million) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for the week.

Fox News topped Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Adult Swim and HGTV on a 24-hour basis, according to Nielsen. Adult Swim was the top choice among adults 18-49 on a total day basis, while AMC topped all cable networks in primetime within the demo.

Most Watched Cable Shows During The Week of Feb. 15-Feb. 21

Date    Show                                              Network                     Total Viewers

2/21   The Walking Dead                            AMC                            13.4 million

2/21   Talking Dead                                     AMC                              5.6 million

2/19   Gold Rush                                         Discovery                       3.8 million

2/15   WWE Monday Night Raw                 USA                               3.6 million

2/15   WWE Monday Night Raw                 USA                               3.5 million

2/20   AEHQ: South Carolina Primary        Fox News                      3.5 million

2/20   AEHQ: South Carolina Primary        Fox News                      3.5 million

2/16   Fixer Upper                                       HGTV                            3.3 million

2/16   ACS: People V. O.J. Simpson              FX                              3.3 million

2/15   WWE Monday Night Raw                 USA                               3.2 million

Source: Nielsen

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.