Fox News Channel Dominates Primetime Cable Ratings for 7th Straight Week

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Fox News Channel steamrolled over basic cable networks to again finish first in the weekly cable ratings race on both a primetime and total day basis, according to Nielsen. 

Fox News averaged 2.3 million viewers in primetime for the week of Feb. 26 to March 4, besting MSNBC’s 1.8 million viewers for the 7th consecutive week. ESPN finished 3rd with 1.4 million viewers, followed by HGTV (1.3 million) and USA Network (1.2 million).

On a total day basis, Fox News won for the eighth straight week, beating out MSNBC, Nickelodeon, HGTV and Investigation Discovery, according to Nielsen.

AMC’s The Walking Dead was the most watched show of the week with 6.8 million viewers, according to Nielsen.

Most Watched Shows for the week of Feb. 26-March 4

Date ShowNetworkTotal Viewers

3/4     The Walking Dead                                               AMC                              4.0 million

2/26   WWE Monday Night Raw (8-9pm)                         USA                              3.4 million

3/3     Live College Basketball                                        ESPN                            3.3 million

2/28   The Rachel Maddow Show                                    MSNBC                         3.2 million

2/26   WWE Monday Night Raw (9-10 pm)                      USA                              3.2 million

3/1     The Rachel Maddow Show                                   MSNBC                         3.1 million

2/26   Tucker Carlson Tonight                                        Fox News                      3.0 million

2/26   The Rachel Maddow Show                                   MSNBC                          3.0 million

2/27   Curse of Oak Island                                            History                          3.0 million

3/1     Hannity                                                              Fox News                      2.9 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.