Fox News Picks Up Cable Ratings Win for First Week Of May

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Fresh off its April monthly ratings win, Fox News continued its viewership momentum into the month of May with a weekly ratings sweep.

Fox News topped the weekly cable primetime ratings list among total viewers for the week of April 29-May 5 with 2.5 million viewers, according to Nielsen. NBA playoffs-infused TNT was second with 2.3 million subscribers, with MSNBC finishing third with 1.7 million watchers. ESPN (1.5 million) and HGTV (1.2 million) rounded out the top five most watched networks for the week.

On a total day basis, Fox News led all cable networks for the 17th consecutive week, averaging 1.4 million viewers, besting in order, MSNBC, TNT, HGTV and Nickelodeon, according to 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.