Fox News is Most Watched Cable Network in Third Quarter

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Fox News remained undefeated in 2019 as it finished the third quarter as the most watched cable network in both primetime and total day, according to Nielsen.

In primetime, Fox News averaged 2.4 million viewers during the period of July 1 to Sept. 29 -- down 1% from the same period in 2018 -- besting cable news rival MSNBC and sports network ESPN, which finished tied for second with 1.5 million viewers. Fox News has topped the primetime charts for all three quarters in 2019, according to Nielsen.

HGTV finished in fourth place for the quarter with 1.2 million viewers, followed by USA Network, CNN and TLC, which all tied for fifth with 1 million viewers each. Hallmark Channel (972,000), Investigation Discovery (893,000) and History (892,000) rounded out the top 10, according to Nielsen.

Fox News finished first on a total day basis for the 13th consecutive quarter despite a 3% year-to-year decline, topping in order MSNBC, Nickelodeon, HGTV and ESPN in the category, according to 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.