As we noted yesterday, with its No.1 finish in Aug. 2018, Fox News marked 200 consecutive months as the most-watched cable news network, and 26 consecutive months as the most-watched basic cable network across the 24-hour day. That’s according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data.
Compared to its August 2017 performance, FNC was +4 percent in total prime time viewers, but the network lost a chunk of its A25-54 audience.
MSNBC ranked No. 2 in total viewers for August, both in prime time and across total day. The network posted year-over-year growth in both dayparts when it came to overall audience. Yet, it lost a number of A25-54 viewers relative to last August.
CNN was down year-over-year in multiple dayparts, but still snagged a top 5 finish in total viewers across the 24-hour day (and was No. 6 in prime time).
Here are the five most-watched basic cable networks of August 2018, followed by their year-over-year total audience change:
Top 5 Basic Cable Networks of August 2018 (Prime Time)
- Fox News (2,299,000) / +4 percent
- MSNBC (1,845,000) / +1 percent
- HGTV (1,363,000) / -5 percent
- USA (1,326,000) / -12 percent
- History (1,087,000) / +3 percent
HGTV, ranked No. 3 in total prime time viewers, was -5 percent vs. its August 2017 delivery. USA, No. 4 in prime time, was -12 percent year-over-year, but History, ranked No. 5, was actually +3 percent vs. August 2017.
Top 5 Basic Cable Networks: August 2018 (Total Day)
- Fox News (1,299,000) / -3 percent
- MSNBC (1,040,000) / +4 percent
- Nickelodeon (966,000) / -17 percent
- HGTV (748,000) / -6 percent
- CNN (705,000) / -15 percent
Fox News remained dominant in total day viewing, but was -3 percent vs. its Aug. 2017 delivery. MSNBC was +4 percent in total day, year-over-year. Nickelodeon posted a double digit drop, despite a top 3 finish. HGTV and CNN were also down vs. August 2017.