FNC, MSNBC, Hallmark Channel Are Among Top Cable Channels

America’s most-watched basic cable network remained at the top of the heap in 2018, reports TVNewser.

For the third consecutive year Fox News Channel ranked No. 1 in total viewers, both in prime time and across the 24-hour day (6 a.m. – 6 a.m.)

According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, FNC averaged 2.4 million total viewers in prime time during 2018, +26 percent more than the next closest finisher, ESPN, and 1.4 million total day viewers in 2018, +43 percent more than second place finisher MSNBC. In fact, Fox News was the sole basic cable network to average more than a million viewers across the 24-hour day.

The majority of the other top cable entertainment networks posted year-over year declines in 2018. This is likely due to the increase in cord cutting, a trend TV news and other networks which broadcast live programming have seemingly proved immune to.

MSNBC, as noted in previous reports this week, posted the most significant year-over-year audience growth of any top 25 basic cable network (+10 percent in prime time / +12 percent in total day).

ESPN had a pretty strong 2018 as well, only -1 percent from 2017. In this day and age, call that a win.

2018 BASIC CABLE TOP 10

Prime Time  (Total Viewers) / YoY % Change

1. Fox News Channel (2,434,000) / +1 percent
2. ESPN (1,929,000) / -1 percent
3. MSNBC (1,802,000) / +10 percent
4. HGTV (1,314,000) / -6 percent
5. USA (1,291,000) / -9 percent
6.  TBS (1,262,000) / –10  percent
7. TNT (1,171,000) / FLAT
8. Hallmark (1,105,000) /  +1 percent
9. History (1,038,000) / -8 percent
10. Investigation Discovery (1,007,000) / FLAT

Missing In Action: CNN

Basic cable ranker: Week of... by on Scribd