Fox News Rolls On in Quarterly Ratings

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Fox news channel was the big primetime ratings winner during the second quarter, capturing its second straight quarterly ratings win of 2017. Fox News — propelled by its breaking news coverage of the first few months of President Donald Trump’s administration — also took home ratings honors on a 24-hour basis, according to Nielsen.

TNT’s National Basketball Association Playoffs coverage helped it finish second in primetime for the quarter, holding off a strong performance by cable news network MSNBC, Nielsen reported.

TNT also scored well with its NBA Playoffs coverage. Overall, pro-hoops coverage on TNT and ESPN dominated the Q2 list of most-watched cable shows, capturing eight of the top 10 slots.

The season seven finale of AMC’s zombie series The Walking Dead was the most-watched show of the quarter, according to Nielsen.

While cable news networks finished among the top-rated networks with viewers 2-plus, entertainment-based networks were the choice of adults 18-49, led by Turner-owned networks TNT and TBS, 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.