Despite MSNBC’s sterling ratings performance this past month, Fox News remained the No. 1 cable network in total day viewers, and the No. 2 cable network in total prime time viewers for May 2017, only behind an NBA playoff-heavy TNT. The network finished ahead of MSNBC in both dayparts if we rank the networks by overall audience.
May 2017 represents the 12th consecutive month that Fox News has ranked No. 1 in total audience across the 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. daypart, per Nielsen. That’s a historic streak for the network.
MSNBC finished May in impressive fashion as the No. 3 cable network in total prime time viewers, and the No. 3 cable network in total day viewers.
CNN ranked in the top 10 in total prime time viewers (No. 8) and was in the top 5 in total day audience (No. 4).
Based on this month’s rankings, it’s obvious that U.S. audiences continue to be enthralled by the current news cycle, particularly across a 24-hour time period.
Looking at May 2017 ratings performance for the other cable news networks – CNBC ranked No. 46, HLN was No. 48 and Fox Business was No. 83 in total prime time viewers.
HLN ranked No. 38, CNBC was No. 58, and Fox Business was No. 66 in total day viewers.
Here’s the basic cable network ranker for May 2017: