Fox News started September similar to how it ended August, as the most-watched basic cable network in prime time. FNC has now ranked No. 1 in total viewers for 5 consecutive weeks, and for 12 out of the last 13. The network averaged 2.2 million total prime time viewers for the week of August 29th, an 18 percent bump from the same week in 2015. Additionally, FNC topped all networks in total day with 1.3 million viewers, a 17 percent improvement from the same week last year.
The August 31st telecast of Hannity, which included Donald Trump’s immigration speech, was the most-watched cable telecast of the week with 5.2 million viewers. Additionally, it ranked as Hannity’s most-watched telecast ever in viewers for the program since it’s move to the 10 p.m. ET slot in 2013.
HGTV, ESPN, USA and TNT finished behind Fox News in the weekly prime time cable rankings. Nickelodeon, Adult Swim, HGTV and Nick-at-Nite round out the top 5 in the total day viewer rankings.
Elsewhere in the cable news universe, MSNBC defeated CNN in total viewers during the total day and prime time dayparts. MSNBC was the 7th-most-watched basic cable network of the week in prime time, and improved by 102 percent in the daypart compared to the same week last year. MSNBC also finished with a No. 11 ranking in total day viewers, and delivered an 84 percent improvement in total day viewers, year-over-year.
CNN finished the week ranked No. 11 in total prime time viewers, and No. 12 in total day viewers. The network improved 89 percent in prime time and +51 percent in total day relative to the same week last year.
HLN ranked No. 46 in total prime time viewers, and No. 40 in total day viewers. The network fell 4 percent in prime time and fell 4 percent in total day viewers relative to the same week in 2015.
CNBC finished the week ranked No. 49 in total prime time viewers, and No. 64 in total day viewers. The network fell 8 percent in prime time and fell 28 percent in total day viewers relative to the same week last year.
Fox Business finished the week ranked No. 81 in total prime time viewers, and No. 70 in total day viewers. The network improved by 111 percent in prime time and by 67 percent in total day viewers relative to the same week in 2015.