Despite Weekday Prime Time Decline, Fox News is No. 1 in Total Day For 20th Straight Week

By A.J. Katz 

Fox News’s decline in prime time from Monday – Friday of last week has been well-documented. Nevertheless, the network still managed to finish the week of May 15 as the No. 1 basic cable network in Total Day audience for the 20th consecutive week.

MSNBC, the No. 1 cable news network from Monday through Friday of last week, actually falls short of Fox News in total prime time viewers if we take Saturday and Sunday into account. To be fair, MSNBC has been airing reruns in Saturday/Sunday prime time for years, while Fox News air news programming in weekend prime.

FNC finished No. 2 in total prime time viewers across cable, only behind TNT and its coverage of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals (Cleveland vs. Boston).

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CNN and MSNBC had significant weeks as well. In fact, all three of the cable news networks were among basic cable’s top 5 networks for the entire week. The non-stop drama coming out of the White House last week is likely why.

Basic Cable Top 5 – Mon – Sun Prime Time (Total Viewers)

  1. TNT (3,163,000)
  2. Fox News (2,209,000)
  3. MSNBC (1,857,000)
  4. ESPN (1,719,000)
  5. CNN (1,426,000)

Basic Cable Top 5 – Total Day (Total Viewers)

  1. Fox News (1,436,000)
  2. Nickelodeon (1,075,000)
  3. MSNBC (1,006,000)
  4. CNN (981,000)
  5. TNT (946,000)

CNBC ranked No. 43 in prime time, and No. 57 in total day viewers.
HLN ranked No. 48 in prime time, and No. 37 in total day viewers.
Fox Business ranked No. 83 in prime time, and No. 66 in total day viewers.

 

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