Fox News Rides Super Tuesday Presidential Primary Coverage to Weekly Ratings Win

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Fox News was the most watched cable network last week as it continues to steamroll its cable network competition, according to Nielsen.

Fox News averaged 3.2 million viewers for the week of March 2 to March 8, which was more than 1 million viewers more than second place MSNBC (2 million viewers), according to Nielsen. The network was paced by its coverage of the March 3 Super Tuesday presidential primaries, averaging 3.5 million for its 6 pm to 12 am coverage.

CNN finished third with 1.3 million viewers, followed by HGTV’s 1.1 million viewers. Discovery Channel, ESPN, A&E Network, and History (all tied with 1 million viewers), along with TLC (993,000) and TNT (917,000) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for the week.

On a 24-hour basis, Fox News Channel averaged 1.7 million viewers, topping MSNBC, CNN, HGTV, ESPN and A&E Network, said 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.