Fox News Stays Atop Weekly Cable Ratings Charts

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Fox News remained perfect for the month of March, finishing first among all cable networks in primetime and on a total day basis last week.

Fox News averaged 2.4 million viewers for the week of March 18-24 to finish first for the 10th consecutive week, according to Nielsen. TBS finished second with 1.9 million viewers, followed by TNT and MSNBC, which each drew 1.7 million watchers, according to Nielsen.

HGTV and History finished tied for fifth with 1.2 million subscribers, followed by USA Network (1.1 million), and Investigation Discovery, truTV and Discovery (all tied with 1.0 million viewers.)

Fox News’ 1.3 million average viewers on a 24-hour basis was good enough to keep the network in first for the 11th week in a row. MSNBC, Nickelodeon, TBS and Investigation Discovery rounded out the top five, 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.