Fox News Tops Weekly Cable Ratings Race

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Fox News catapulted to the top of the weekly primetime cable ratings charts as the 2014-15 television season begins to wind down.

Fox News averaged 1.69 million viewers for the week of April 13 to April 19 to lead all cable networks as news regarding the 2016 election season begins to dominate the headlines, according to Nielsen. USA Network and Disney Channel finished in a tie for second with 1.56 million viewers, followed by TBS’ 1.53 million and Discovery Channel’s 1.45 million watchers.

TNT (1.39 million viewers); HGTV (1.32 million); History (1.21 million); ESPN (1.16 million) and Adult Swim (1.04 million) all finished in the top 10 for the week.

Adult Swim narrowly defeated Disney Channel for top honors over a 24-hour basis, with Nickelodeon, Fox News and USA Network rounding out the top five.

TBS was the most watched network among adults 18-49 for the week, while Disney was the most watched network among tweens (9-14), according to Nielsen.

HBO’s Game Of Thrones was the most watched show for the second week in a row, leading a list of live sports and sports-entertainment programming.

Most Watched Primetime Shows For The Week of April 13 to April 19

DateShowNetworkTotal Viewers

 4/19      Game Of Thrones                                                    HBO                                       6.8 million

4/13       WWE Entertainment (9-10 p.m.)                               USA                                       3.7 million

4/19       NBA Playoffs Game                                                  TNT                                        3.7 million

4/13       WWE Entertainment (8-9 p.m.)                                 USA                                       3.6 million

4/19       NBA Playoffs Game                                                  TNT                                        3.5 million

4/13       WWE Entertainment (10-11:03 p.m.)                          USA                                       3.5 million

4/19       NBA Playoffs Game                                                   TNT                                        3.3 million

4/18       NBA Playoffs Game                                                   TNT                                        3.2 million

4/14       Deadliest Catch                                                        Discovery                                3.2 million

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.