Fox News Channel finished 2012 as the number one cable news channel, and the number three cable network among all ad-supported channels with 2.04 million viewers, behind ESPN and USA Network. In total day it was fourth qith 1.15 million viewers, behind USA, Nickelodeon and Adult Swim.
MSNBC placed 19th overall in primetime with 905,000 viewers (in between TLC and Nick at Nite), and 24th in total day with 497,000. CNN was 29th in primetime and 30th in total day, averaging 677,000 and 415,000 viewers, respectively.
HLN was 40th in primetime and 42nd in total day, averaging 334,000 and 242,000 viewers, respectively. Current TV, which was sold to Al Jazeera this week, placed 92nd in primetime and 93rd in total day, averaging 41,000 and 27,000 viewers, respectively.
For the business networks: CNBC led the way as usual, placing 53rd in both primetime and total day, averaging 212,000 and 155,000 viewers, respectively. Fox Business improved from a year ago, but still has a long way to go. It placed 88th in primetime and 84th in total day, averaging 61,000 and 55,000 viewers, respectively. Bloomberg TV hasn’t been rated by Nielsen since it launched in the mid-90s.
The full network rankers are after the jump.
2012 all cable