Fox News started the fall TV ratings season much like it ended the summer ratings campaign – atop the cable primetime charts.
Cable’s most watched network this past summer launched the first week of cable’s fall TV season averaging 2.1 million viewers in primetime for the week of Aug. 29 to Sept. 4, according to Nielsen.
HGTV was a distant second with 1.5 million viewers, followed by ESPN and USA Network, both tied with 1.4 million viewers.
TNT was fifth with 1.3 million viewers followed by History, MSNBC and TBS, all tied with 1.2 million. Disney Channel (1 million viewers) and Investigation Discovery (972,000) rounded out the top 10.
Fox News also grabbed top honors on a 24-hour basis, besting Nickelodeon, Adult Swim, Disney Channel, HGTV and Nick At Nite, according to Nielsen.
The start of college football season and the Major League Baseball’s pennant races helped ESPN finish as the most watched network among adult 18-49 viewers, while Adult Swim was the top choice for the demo on a 24-hour basis.
Most Watched Cable Shows For The Week of Aug. 29 to Sept. 4
DateShow NetworkTotal Viewers
8/31 Hannity Fox News 5.2 million
8/29 Rizzoli & Isles TNT 4.8 million
9/3 Live College Football ESPN 4.7 million
8/31 The Kelly File Fox News 4.3 million
8/29 Major Crimes TNT 3.9 million
9/3 Live College Football ESPN 3.5 million
8/29 WWE Monday Night Raw USA 3.4 million
8/29 WWE Monday Night Raw USA 3.4 million
8/29 WWE Monday Night Raw USA 3.3 million
8/31 The O’Reilly Factor Fox News 3.1 million
Source: Nielsen
