Cable Network Ranker: Week of July 31

By A.J. Katz 

Led by Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Bret Baier, Fox News topped the basic cable landscape in total day viewers for the 31st consecutive week. Fox News also finished No. 1 in total prime time viewers for the 11th straight week.

FNC was – 3 percent in total prime time viewers, but +3 percent in total day viewers versus the comparable week in 2016.

Tucker Carlson Tonight made up four of the top 12 cable telecasts while FNC programs made up 11 of the top 25 programs for the week of July 31, including various presentations of The Five, Hannity and Special Report.

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MSNBC, the second-most-watched basic cable network of the week, posted +44 percent growth in total prime viewers, and +28 percent growth in total day viewers. With Joy Reid filling in for Rachel Maddow on Wednesday and Thursday, and Richard Engel filling in on Friday, MSNBC’s 9 p.m. hour was still No. 1 across cable news in the ad-friendly A25-54 demo.

CNN posted +6 percent growth in total prime time viewers, and a -1 percent decline in total day viewers from last year. The network beat MSNBC in the total day demo.

CNN’s sister net HLN was +1 percent in total prime time viewers and even in total day versus last year.

CNBC posted +8 percent growth in prime time, but was -28 percent in total day versus last year.

Fox Business was +13 percent in prime time, and +24 percent in total day versus last year.

Additionally, here’s a look at the top 5 basic cable networks of the week in total viewers and among adults 25-54 across Monday – Sunday:

Basic Cable Top 5 – Prime time (Total Viewers)

  1. Fox News (2,186,000)
  2. MSNBC (1,760,000)
  3. USA (1,489,000)
  4. HGTV (1,473,000)
  5. TBS (1,210,000)

Basic Cable Top 5 – Total Day (Total Viewers)

  1. Fox News (1,314,000)
  2. Nickelodeon (1,206 ,000)
  3. MSNBC (969,000)
  4. HGTV (822,000)
  5. Cartoon Network (810,000)

Basic Cable Top 5 – Prime time (Adults 25-54)

  1. TBS (635,000)
  2. USA (612,000)
  3. HGTV (495,000)
  4. Fox News (447,000)
  5. A&E (444,000)

Basic Cable Top 5 – Total Day (Adults 25-54)

  1. Adult Swim (383,000)
  2. Investigation Discovery (310,000)
  3. Nickelodeon (297,000)
  4. Nick-at-Nite (295,000)
  5. HGTV (285,000)

Basic Cable Ranker: Week of July 31 (Total Viewers)

Basic Cable Ranker: Week of July 31 (Adults 25-54)

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