Fox News Tops Primetime Ratings Charts

Fox News started the fall TV ratings season much like it ended the summer ratings campaign – atop the cable primetime charts.

Cable’s most watched network this past summer launched the first week of cable’s fall TV season averaging 2.1 million viewers in primetime for the week of Aug. 29 to Sept. 4, according to Nielsen.

HGTV was a distant second with 1.5 million viewers, followed by ESPN and USA Network, both tied with 1.4 million viewers.

TNT was fifth with 1.3 million viewers followed by History, MSNBC and TBS, all tied with 1.2 million. Disney Channel (1 million viewers) and Investigation Discovery (972,000) rounded out the top 10.

Fox News also grabbed top honors on a 24-hour basis, besting Nickelodeon, Adult Swim, Disney Channel, HGTV and Nick At Nite, according to Nielsen.

The start of college football season and the Major League Baseball’s pennant races helped ESPN finish as the most watched network among adult 18-49 viewers, while Adult Swim was the top choice for the demo on a 24-hour basis.

Most Watched Cable Shows For The Week of Aug. 29 to Sept. 4

DateShow NetworkTotal Viewers

8/31       Hannity                                                                Fox News               5.2 million

8/29       Rizzoli & Isles                                                      TNT                       4.8 million

9/3         Live College Football                                             ESPN                    4.7 million

8/31       The Kelly File                                                       Fox News                4.3 million

8/29       Major Crimes                                                        TNT                        3.9 million

9/3         Live College Football                                             ESPN                     3.5 million

8/29       WWE Monday Night Raw                                       USA                        3.4 million

8/29       WWE Monday Night Raw                                       USA                        3.4 million

8/29       WWE Monday Night Raw                                       USA                        3.3 million

8/31       The O’Reilly Factor                                                Fox News                3.1 million

Source: Nielsen

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.