Weekly Cable Ratings: Fox News Returns to Top Spot in Primetime

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News network sweeps August total day chart

Gutfeld
Fox News' 'Gutfeld!' (Image credit: Fox News)

Fox News last week bounced back to the top of the primetime charts a week after being dethroned by MSNBC, while continuing its dominance of the total day chart.

Fox News averaged 2.3 million viewers for the week of August 26-September 1, besting second-place ESPN’s 1.6 million viewers, according to Nielsen numbers supplied by Fox News. 

MSNBC, which ended Fox News’ 11-week winning streak on the chart during the week of August 19, finished third last week with 1.2 million viewers, followed by CNN’s 1 million viewers and USA Network’s 716,000 watchers.

ESPN2 was sixth with 630,000 viewers, followed by Hallmark Channel and HGTV (613,000 viewers each), INSP (551,000) and TBS (478,000).

Fox News extended its run of wins on the total day chart to 34 weeks with an average of 1.3 million viewers. MSNBC was second with 857,000 viewers, followed by ESPN (775,000), CNN (555,000) and Hallmark Channel (357,000), 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.