Last week, Fox News was the most-watched basic cable network both in prime time and in total day viewers for the 5th consecutive week, per Nielsen live+same-day data. The O’Reilly Factor posted 4 of the top 10 cable telecasts in total viewers while FNC programs made up 18 of the top 30 telecasts in total viewers, including various presentations of Americas News HQ, Happening Now, The Five, Special Report with Bret Baier, The O’Reilly Factor, Tucker Carlson Tonight and Hannity.
During this past week among cable news, Fox News also out-performed CNN and MSNBC in both prime time and total day total viewership.
Basic Cable Top 5 – Primetime (Total Viewers)
- Fox News (2,776,000)
- TNT (1,990,000)
- MSNBC (1,583,000)
- HGTV (1,575,000)
- USA (1,464,000)
Basic Cable Top 5 – Total Day (Total Viewers)
- Fox News (1,729,000)
- Nickelodeon (1,102,000)
- CNN (921,000)
- MSNBC (877,000)
- HGTV (865,000)
MSNBC defeated CNN in total prime time audience this past week, coming in at No. 3 in the daypart and growing +59 percent from the same week in 2016. MSNBC ranked No. 4 in total day viewers, and grew a solid +65 percent in the daypart from last year.
The Peacock’s cable news network came in at No. 3 in prime thanks to an especially strong performance from The Rachel Maddow Show. Last week was the 2nd best week ever for Maddow in average total audience (2.5 million). The program’s record was set right before the 2008 election, the week of Oct. 27, 2008, when the program averaged 2.6 million total prime time viewers.
CNN beat MSNBC in total day audience this past week, ranking No. 3 across cable, and growing +33 percent from the same week last year. The network ranked No. 10 in total prime time viewers, and grew +4 percent year-over-year.
CNBC (No. 46) edged HLN (No. 47) in total prime time viewers this past week, but both networks posted year-over-year declines in prime time and in total day viewership. CNBC was -40 percent from the same week last year, while HLN was -20 percent from last year in prime time. HLN ranked No. 36 in total day viewers, but was -23 percent from the same week last year. CNBC ranked No. 60 in total day and was -24 percent in the daypart from last year.
Fox Business, on the other hand, continued to post growth. FBN ranked No. 75 in prime time, and grew +41 percent year-over-year.
The network defeated rival CNBC in total day viewers for the third time ever, coming in at No. 57 across basic cable. The network also posted +72 percent year-over-year audience growth.