Fox News Channel Continues Strong Ratings Run

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Fox News Channel stayed hot on the weekly ratings front, finishing last week as the most watched cable network, according to Nielsen.

FNC averaged 2.8 million viewers for the week of April 3 to April 9 to take the top spot for the 11th time in the past 12 weeks, according to Nielsen. MSNBC was second with 1.6 million viewers, followed by USA Network’s 1.5 million viewers and HGTV’s 1.4 million watchers.

Related: The News Keeps Making News

TBS, ESPN and CNN tied for fifth with 1.1 million viewers, followed by Investigation Discovery and History with 1 million viewers each and Discovery with 999,000 viewers, said Nielsen.

FNC was also the most watched cable network on a 24-hour basis for the 14th consecutive week, said Nielsen. USA Network was the choice among adults 18-49 during the week.

Related: Fox News Channel, Ailes, Shine Named in New Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Five episodes of The O'Reilly Factor starring Bill O'Reilly ranked in the top 10 most watched shows of the week, but advertisers began pulling commercials from the show following a New York Times article outlining several sexual harassment complaints against O'Reilly, who the network on Tuesday (April 11) said would be taking a vacation.

Most Watched Cable Shows April 3-9, 2017

DateTelecastNetworkTotal Viewers

 4/6        Hannity                                          Fox News                4.8 million

4/6         Shepard Smith Reporting                 Fox News                4.5 million

4/3         WWE Monday Night Raw                   USA                       3.9 million

4/3         WWE Monday Night Raw                   USA                       3.8 million

4/7         The O’Reilly Factor                          Fox News                 3.8 million

4/4         The O’Reilly Factor                          Fox News                 3.7 million

4/6         The O’Reilly Factor                          Fox News                 3.6 million

4/3         The O’Reilly Factor                          Fox News                 3.6 million

4/5         The O’Reilly Factor                          Fox News                 3.6 million

4/3         WWE Monday Night Raw                    USA                      3.5 million

Source: 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.