Fox News, ESPN Top November Cable Ratings Charts

ESPN high-stepped its way to a first place finish in November, while Fox News continued its monthly dominance on a total day ratings basis, according to Nielsen.

ESPN's 'Monday Night Football' telecast of the Nov. 11 Seahawks-49'ers game

ESPN's 'Monday Night Football' telecast of the Nov. 11 Seahawks-49'ers game

ESPN, benefiting from its Monday Night Football telecasts, drew 2.8 million viewers in primetime during the period of Oct. 28 to Nov. 24 to win its second straight monthly ratings race, according to Nielsen. Fox News finished second for the month with 2.7 million viewers, followed by Hallmark Channel’s 1.5 million viewers and CNN’s 999,000 watchers.

HGTV was fifth with 995,000 viewers, followed by A&E Network (909,000 viewers), History (886,000), Discovery Channel (877,000), TBS (858,000) and TLC (829,000), according to Nielsen.

RELATED: Fox News, ESPN Rule October Ratings

Fox News was number one in cable on a 24-hour basis for the 41st consecutive month, averaging 1.5 million viewers for November. MSNBC, ESPN, Hallmark Channel and CNN followed closely behind, said Nielsen.

On the cable news front, Fox News bested both CNN and MSNBC in primetime and total day audience for the 215th straight month. Fox News’ average of 2.7 million total viewers in primetime was up 15% compared to November 2018, while CNN’s 999,000 viewers was down 11% and MSNBC’s 2 million viewers was up 12% compared to the same period in 2018, according to Nielsen.

Fox News also generated four out of the top five most watched cable news shows for the month led by Hannity, Nielsen said. 

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.