ESPN Tops Weekly Cable Ratings Charts

By
published

ESPN closed out October as the most watched network in primetime, according to Nielsen.

The sports network averaged 2.9 million viewers to top all comers during the week of Oct. 26-Nov. 1, easily besting second place AMC, which generated 1.9 million viewers.

CNBC rode its record-setting Oct. 28 Republican Debate coverage to a third place finish for the week with 1.8 million viewers, beating out rival cable news service Fox News’ 1.6 million watchers.

USA Network (1.5 million viewers) TNT and Disney Channel (tied with 1.4 million) TBS (1.3 million), HGTV (1.2 million) and Discovery Channel (1.1 million) rounded out the top 10.

ESPN, Nickelodeon and Fox News tied for the top spot among the most watched cable networks on a 24-hour basis with 1.1 million, with Disney Channel and Adult Swim close behind, according to Nielsen.

Most Watched Cable Shows For Week Of Oct. 26 to Nov. 1

Date    Telecast                                          Network                     Total Viewers

10/28 Republican Presidential Debate      CNBC                          14.0 million

11/1   The Walking Dead                            AMC                            13.3 million

10/26 Monday Night Football (Balt-Ariz)  ESPN                            12.2 million

11/1   Talking Dead                                     AMC                             4.6 million

10/31 College Football (Mich-Minn)          ESPN                             3.6 million

10/26 SportsCenter                                   ESPN                             3.6 million

10/26 WWE Monday Night Raw                USA                               3.6 million

10/30 Gold Rush                                        Discovery                       3.5 million

10/31 College Football (Ole Miss-Auburn) ESPN                             3.4 million

10/29 The O’Reilly Factor                           Fox News                      3.4 million

Source: Nielsen

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.