Weekly Cable Ratings: Fox News Knocks ESPN Off Top of Primetime Chart

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Sports network’s January winning streak comes to an end

The Five
Fox News' 'The Five' (Image credit: Fox News)

Fox News Channel found its way to the top of primetime cable charts during the last week of January, stopping ESPN’s month-long, first place run. 

Fox News averaged 2.1 million viewers in primetime during the week of January 23-January 29, ending ESPN’s three-week winning streak on the chart, according to Nielsen. MSNBC was second with 1 million viewers, followed by HGTV’s 928,000 viewers, ESPN’s 916,000 viewers and Hallmark Channel’s 827,000 watchers, said Nielsen.

History was sixth with 763,000 viewers, followed by TNT (739,000), INSP (726,000), USA Network (707,000) and TBS (685,000). 

Fox News topped the total day charts for the fourth straight week, averaging 1.3 million viewers, followed by MSNBC (681,000 viewers), ESPN (523,000), HGTV (498,000) and CNN (481,000), reported 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.