The NBA on TNT & ESPN and the NHL Playoffs on NBCSN were (and still are) in their respective conference semifinal rounds. However, it’s a non-sports network that managed to finish last week No. 1 in total prime time viewers: Fox News.
In addition to winning in prime time, FNC was the most-watched cable network for the week of April 29 in total day, per Nielsen live-plus-same-day data. This marks 17 straight weeks now that FNC has averaged the most total viewers of any cable network during the 6 a.m. – 6 a.m. daypart.
In total day, Fox News delivered 1.4 million viewers, which is +4% vs. the comparable week in 2018, and 241,000 in the 25-54 demo, which is -11% vs. the comparable week last year. In prime time, Fox News garnered 2.5 million total viewers, +6% from last year, and 396,000 demo viewers, which is -12% vs. the comparable week last year.
Most notably, FNC was the most-watched cable news network for live coverage of Attorney General William Barr’s hearing from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET. The coverage drew 2.2 million viewers and 304,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating both CNN and MSNBC across the board.
In addition, presentations of Hannity, Tucker Carlson Tonight, and The Ingraham Angle claimed 11 of the 25-most-watched cable telecasts overall in total viewers. Hannity made up the top two most-watched non-sports cable telecasts for the week.
MSNBC finished No. 3 in total prime time viewers and No. 2 in total day viewers this past week. The network’s 1.75 million prime time viewer delivery is even versus the comparable week last year, and its 984,000 total day viewers figure is +2% vs. last year. The story was very different when it came to adults 25-54. Compared to last year, MSNBC was -24% in the prime time demo, and -28% in the total day demo.
CNN was a top 10 basic cable network last week in total day viewers (No. 8). However, it had a rough week in prime time. Especially in the prime time demo. CNN averaged 184,000 demo viewers in prime time, -36% vs. the comparable week last year. The network was also -12% in total viewers from last year.
Here are the top ten basic cable networks of last week, ranked by total viewers.
PRIME TIME
- Fox News (2,502,000)
- TNT (2,321,000)
- MSNBC (1,754,000)
- ESPN (1,579,000)
- HGTV (1,205,000)
- A&E (1,170,000)
- NBCSN (1,136,000)
- USA (1,040,000)
- History (1,015,000)
- TBS (1,015,000)
TOTAL DAY (6a – 6a)
- Fox News (1,413,000)
- MSNBC (984,000)
- TNT (824,000)
- HGTV (691,000)
- Nickelodeon (667,000)
- Investigation Discovery (659,000)
- ESPN (598,000)
- A&E (569,000)
- CNN (569,000)
- USA (526,000)