Fox News is steamrolling its cable network competition in primetime so far in 2016.
Still riding high on its coverage of the 2016 political season, Fox News claimed its third consecutive primetime weekly ratings win in a row among total viewers, averaging 2.2 million viewers for the week of Feb. 1 to Feb. 7, according to Nielsen. The network has now been the most watched network in primetime in all but one of the first five weeks of 2016.
HGTV, on the strength of freshman series Fixer Upper, finished second for the week with 1.6 million viewers, followed by USA Network with 1.5 million watchers. ESPN and Disney Channel tied for fourth with 1.4 million viewers, while FX – helped by a network record-setting premiere for its People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story – finished fifth with 1.3 million viewers.
CNN, TBS, Discovery Channel and MSNBC (all tied with 1.2 million viewers) along with History (1.1 million) finished among the top 10 most watched networks in primetime last week.
Fox News was also tops on a 24-hour basis, besting Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, Adult Swim and HGTV, according to Nielsen.
ESPN was the top choice among adults 18-49 in primetime during the period, while Adult Swim was tops on a 24-hour basis within the demo.
Most Watched Shows During The Week of Feb. 1 to Feb. 7
DateShowNetworkP2+
2/2 People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Fx 5.1 million
2/1 America’s Election Headquarters Fox News 4.9 million
2/4 Democratic Debate MSNBC 4.4 million
2/1 America’s Election Headquarters Fox News 4.3 million
2/1 Iowa Caucuses CNN 4.3 million
2/1 America’s Election Headquarters Fox News 4.1 million
2/1 America’s Election Headquarters Fox News 4.0 million
2/5 Gold Rush Discovery 3.9 million
2/1 America’s Choice 2016 CNN 3.9 million
2/2 Fixer Upper HGTV 3.5 million
Source: Nielsen
