TBS Slam Dunks Second Straight Weekly Ratings Win

TBS scored its second straight weekly cable primetime ratings win on the strength of its coverage of the March Madness college basketball tournament.

TBS averaged 2.6 million viewers during the week of April 4 to April 10 to defeat runner up Fox News, which averaged 1.9 million viewers, according to Nielsen. USA Network finished third in race with 1.6 million viewers, followed by HGTV’s 1.5 million viewers and ESPN’s 1.3 million watchers.

TNT and Disney Channel (tied with 1.2 million viewers), Discovery Channel, History, and FX (tied with 1.1 million) rounded out the top 10 most watched networks for the week.

TBS was also the top choice among adults 18-49 for the week, according to Nielsen.

Nickelodeon was tops on a 24-hour basis, besting in order Fox News, Adult Swim, Disney Channel and HGTV, said Nielsen.

Most Watched Cable Shows During The Week Of April 4 to April 10

DateShow                                                               Network         Total Viewers

4/4     March Madness Final: Villanova-NC           TBS                 13.8 million

4/4     March Madness Pre-Game Show                TBS                   9.6 million

4/10   Fear The Walking Dead                                AMC                  6.7 million

4/4     March Madness Post-Game Show               TBS                   4.9 million

4/4     WWE Monday Night Raw (8-9 pm)               USA                   4.2 million

4/4     WWE Monday Night Raw (9-10 pm)             USA                   4.1 million

4/4     WWE Monday Night Raw (10-11:10 pm)       USA                  3.8 million

4/7     NBA – San Antonio-Golden State                  TNT                   3.4 million

4/5     The Kelly File                                                  Fox News          3.3 million

4/5     ACS: The People v O.J. Simpson                   FX                     3.2 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.