Fox News Regains Weekly Ratings Crown

Fox News’ coverage of Winter Storm Jonas this past weekend helped the network finish first in cable's weekly primetime ratings race, according to Nielsen.

Fox News averaged 2.1 million viewers to finish as the most watched network during the period of Jan. 18 to Jan. 24 – its second win in three weeks so far in 2016, according to Nielsen.

HGTV bolted to second place in the weekly ratings race, averaging 1.7 million viewers, with USA and TBS pulling into a tie for third with 1.6 million viewers each.

Discovery and Disney Channel tied for fifth place with 1.5 million viewers, followed by TNT (1.4 million viewers), and History and FX (1.2 million each). Last week's ratings winner ESPN, along with Lifetime, Investigative Discovery, and Food Network (all tied with 1.1 million), rounded out the top 10.

Fox News also topped all cable networks on a 24-hour basis, while TBS was the top choice in primetime among adults 18-49, said Nielsen.

The Most Watched Cable Shows During The Week of Jan. 18-24

DateShowNetworkTotal Viewers

1/22   Gold Rush                                                        Discovery                   4.5 million

1/24   Alaska: The Last Frontier                                 Discovery                   3.7 million

1/18   WWE Monday Night Raw (8-9 pm)                  USA Network             3.7 million

1/19   Fixer Upper                                                      HGTV                         3.6 million

1/23   Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart (movie)         Lifetime                      3.6 million

1/18   NBA –Golden State-Cleveland                        TNT                            3.6 million

1/18   WWE Monday Night Raw (9-10 pm)               USA Network              3.5 million

1/19   The O’Reilly Factor                                         Fox News                    3.5 million

1/18   The O’Reilly Factor                                         Fox News                    3.4 million

1/23   The Big Bang Theory                                      TNT                             3.3 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.