According to Nielsen Media Research, during the week of September 5, Fox News Channel remained the most-watched basic cable channel in total day, but slipped to No. 2 in total prime time viewers behind ESPN and the return of college football prime time broadcasts.
FNC improved 26 percent in total prime time viewers, and improved 21 percent in total day viewers from the comparable week in 2015.
In its debut week, On the Record with Brit Hume was up 5 percent in total viewers and up 12 percent in the demo compared to the previous week, and up 8 percent in viewers and up 14 percent in the demo compared to the year to-date average for the show. Additionally, Bret Baier debuted his new Sunday primetime edition of Special Report, which garnered nearly 2 million in total viewers and was the most-watched cable news show on Sunday.
MSNBC finished the week ranked No. 8 in total prime time viewers, up 125 percent from the same week last year. The network finished No. 14 in total day viewers, up 101 percent year-over-year.
CNN finished the week ranked No. 10 in total prime time viewers (+120 percent year-over-year), and No. 12 in total day viewers (+62 percent year-over-year).
HLN ranked No. 48 in total prime time viewers (+1 percent year-over-year), and No. 40 in total day viewers (-3 percent year-over-year).
CNBC ranked No. 49 in total prime time viewers (-10 percent year-over-year), and No. 64 in total day viewers (-18 percent year-over-year).
Fox Business, led by the return of Neil Cavuto, improved by 41 percent in total day viewers and jumped 44 percent in total prime time viewers from the same week last year. The network ranked No. 86 in prime time, and No. 80 in total day viewers.
Top 5 – Primetime (P2+)
- ESPN (2,444,000)
- FNC (2,181,000)
- Discovery (1,654,000)
- HGTV (1,620,000)
- USA (1,398,000)
Top 5 – Total Day (P2+)
- FNC (1,289,000)
- Nickelodeon (1,113,000)
- ESPN (988,000)
- Adult Swim (916,000)
- HGTV (911,000)