As we showed you in this afternoon’s monthly ratings reports, Fox News was the No. 1 basic cable network for the month of February in total prime time viewers and in total day viewers. FNC finished ahead of HGTV, USA, MSNBC and TNT in prime time, and ahead of Nickelodeon, HGTV, CNN and Adult Swim in total day. Fox News also posted double-digit viewership gains, both in total day and in prime time viewers, compared to February 2016.
CNN grew double digits in total day viewers (+16 percent), and ranked No. 4 in the daypart across all of basic cable. The network fell in prime time from February 2016 without any primary debates to broadcast.
MSNBC grew double digits across the board from February 2016, culminating in a No. 4 ranking in total prime time audience.
HLN ranked No. 48 in prime time, but was -20 percent year-over-year. The network ranked No. 37 in total day, but was -21 percent year-over-year.
CNBC had a rough month relative to 2016. The network ranked No. 51 in prime time, and was -32 percent from Feb. 2016. The network ranked No. 59 in total day, and was -20 percent from Feb. 2016.
Fox Business, on the other hand, grew +48 percent in prime time viewers, and ranked No. 71 in the daypart. FBN scored a No. 57 ranking in total day, two spots ahead of CNBC, and grew +65 percent in total day viewers from February 2016.