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Fox News Tops USA, Leads Week’s Cable Primetime Viewership

Posted on 26 January 2010 by Bill Gorman

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More Haiti earthquake coverage, and the  special election in Massachusetts boosted Fox News into the top position for average primetime cable viewership, finishing ahead of the typical “non-sports” leader USA. Fox News also topped USA in the total day average viewership, but both finished behind the top trio of kids networks. CNN fell back from its position last week, moving down to #23 in primetime viewership, while  MSNBC was #27 and Headline News was #38 for the week. USA kept its grip on the top spot for the adults 18-49 demo in primetime.

Nickelodeon remained firmly on the top of the total day average viewership.

Prime-time Average Viewers (Live+SD) Week of January 18-25, 2010

Network (000s)
FOXN 3,213
USA 3,194
DSNY 2,475
NAN 2,236
TNT 1,979
A&E 1,845
LIFE 1,729
TBSC 1,597
HIST 1,541
FAM 1,442
HGTV 1,385
FX 1,329
TOON 1,326
ESPN 1,301
TRU 1,299
DISC 1,241
FOOD 1,204
SYFY 1,163
TLC 1,141
MTV 1,140
AMC 1,030
HALL 986
CNN 980
SPK 966
NKJR 812

-
Adults 18-49 Primetime Average (Live+SD)

Network (000s)
USA 1,324
TBSC 929
A&E 914
LIFE 908
TNT 895
FX 837
HIST 767
MTV 738
DISC 679
TRU 636
FAM 622
FOOD 587
ESPN 581
FOXN 575
TLC 552
NAN 533
DSNY 519
HGTV 512
SPK 511
SYFY 504
CMDY 497
VH1 444
AMC 443
EN 425
BET 335

-
Total Day Average Viewers (Live+SD)

Network (000s)
NICK 2,380
NAN 1,766
DSNY 1,644
FOXN 1,642
USA 1,526
TNT 1,333
ADSM 1,134
TOON 1,127
A&E 981
TBSC 894
TRU 893
LIFE 880
ESPN 825
FX 814
HIST 786
HGTV 752
FOOD 750
DISC 744
SPK 691
CNN 657
MTV 648
FAM 641
NKJR 570
AMC 564
TLC 558

-
Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2010 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.

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  • Doug

    Obama’s been great for FNC. As conservative as they (pretend) to be, they must secretly hoping that he pulls a second term in 2012. And that their audience doesn’t die off in the meantime.

  • Doug

    Obama’s been great for FNC. As conservative as they (pretend) to be, they must secretly hoping that he pulls a second term in 2012. And that their audience doesn’t die off in the meantime.

  • Anonymous

    Saturdays and Sundays drag FNC weekly averages down considerably: by about 800K in total primetime and 260K in total day viewers for the week above.

  • AppleStinx

    Saturdays and Sundays drag FNC weekly averages down considerably: by about 800K in total primetime and 260K in total day viewers for the week above.

  • tvfan

    but even saturday and sunday were up considerably

  • tvfan

    but even saturday and sunday were up considerably

  • tvfan

    but even saturday and sunday were up considerably

  • Fella

    CNN is a graveyard now.

  • Fella

    CNN is a graveyard now.

  • Fella

    CNN is a graveyard now.

  • Tom

    “CNN is a graveyard now.”

    This always surprises me. Take a personality like Anderson Cooper. The guy seems charasmatic and I believe he’s good looking (I don’t personally swing that way but I’ve been told). Yet he gets trounced. Last I checked his ratings were in a free fall in fact

    It just seems as if he should be doing better.

  • Tom

    “CNN is a graveyard now.”

    This always surprises me. Take a personality like Anderson Cooper. The guy seems charasmatic and I believe he’s good looking (I don’t personally swing that way but I’ve been told). Yet he gets trounced. Last I checked his ratings were in a free fall in fact

    It just seems as if he should be doing better.

  • Tom

    “CNN is a graveyard now.”

    This always surprises me. Take a personality like Anderson Cooper. The guy seems charasmatic and I believe he’s good looking (I don’t personally swing that way but I’ve been told). Yet he gets trounced. Last I checked his ratings were in a free fall in fact

    It just seems as if he should be doing better.

  • Greg

    I agree with the comment on CNN. I can’t imagine someone watching Olbermann or Maddow over Anderson Cooper!

  • Greg

    I agree with the comment on CNN. I can’t imagine someone watching Olbermann or Maddow over Anderson Cooper!

  • Greg

    I agree with the comment on CNN. I can’t imagine someone watching Olbermann or Maddow over Anderson Cooper!

  • Julia

    I have noticed that my former favorite network, GSN, has been dropping their classic shows like flies in he past few months, and replacing them with reruns of Deal or No Deal or their own crappy stuff. Can you tell me just how badly their doing ratings wise and what the reasoning is behind this? Could this have anything to do with the failure of two heavily promoted Saturday night shows, Big Saturday night and the Game Show Awards? Or possibly because of the failure, IMO, of their two new shows, Hidden Agenda and Carney Wilson Unstapled? I heard those shows premiered down in the range of a 0.2 or 0.3, which is horrible, even for their standards.

    (Remember when the network used to pull in 0.7 ratings on a normal night back in the early 2000′s? Those were the days…sigh)

  • Julia

    I have noticed that my former favorite network, GSN, has been dropping their classic shows like flies in he past few months, and replacing them with reruns of Deal or No Deal or their own crappy stuff. Can you tell me just how badly their doing ratings wise and what the reasoning is behind this? Could this have anything to do with the failure of two heavily promoted Saturday night shows, Big Saturday night and the Game Show Awards? Or possibly because of the failure, IMO, of their two new shows, Hidden Agenda and Carney Wilson Unstapled? I heard those shows premiered down in the range of a 0.2 or 0.3, which is horrible, even for their standards.

    (Remember when the network used to pull in 0.7 ratings on a normal night back in the early 2000′s? Those were the days…sigh)

  • Julia

    I have noticed that my former favorite network, GSN, has been dropping their classic shows like flies in he past few months, and replacing them with reruns of Deal or No Deal or their own crappy stuff. Can you tell me just how badly their doing ratings wise and what the reasoning is behind this? Could this have anything to do with the failure of two heavily promoted Saturday night shows, Big Saturday night and the Game Show Awards? Or possibly because of the failure, IMO, of their two new shows, Hidden Agenda and Carney Wilson Unstapled? I heard those shows premiered down in the range of a 0.2 or 0.3, which is horrible, even for their standards.

    (Remember when the network used to pull in 0.7 ratings on a normal night back in the early 2000′s? Those were the days…sigh)

  • http://theworldpolitics.info/2010/01/26/fox-news-1-in-primetime-cable-last-week-tops-usa-network.html Fox News #1 In Primetime Cable Last Week, Tops USA Network | TheWorldPolitics

    [...] reported by TVBytheNumbers.com moments ago: More Haiti earthquake coverage, and the  special election in [...]

  • Tara Hogg

    CNN and MSNBC doesnt only are one sided, and people are starting to see the lies that come out of their mouth. We want the truth and we want facts not specultation or myth.

  • Tara Hogg

    CNN and MSNBC doesnt only are one sided, and people are starting to see the lies that come out of their mouth. We want the truth and we want facts not specultation or myth.

  • Tara Hogg

    CNN and MSNBC doesnt only are one sided, and people are starting to see the lies that come out of their mouth. We want the truth and we want facts not specultation or myth.

  • cLASSYlADY2010

    Fox is the BEST !! People want fair and balanced and they get it with FOX !!

    Too bad Obama ….another failure for you !!

  • cLASSYlADY2010

    Fox is the BEST !! People want fair and balanced and they get it with FOX !!

    Too bad Obama ….another failure for you !!

  • cLASSYlADY2010

    Fox is the BEST !! People want fair and balanced and they get it with FOX !!

    Too bad Obama ….another failure for you !!

  • http://www.daveinboca.blogspot.com/ daveinboca

    Take a personality like Anderson Cooper. The guy seems charasmatic and I believe he’s good looking (I don’t personally swing that way but I’ve been told). Yet he gets trounced. Last I checked his ratings were in a free fall in fact

    Right after he started using the gay sexual trope of “teabagger,” Cooper showed he was a low class sh*tslinger—period. His numbers started trending downward back then and now are in a place appropriate for someone using a sexual slur on a news show. He will continue to hemorrhage even with gigs on 60 Minutes & elsewhere. Cooper showed he was no better than Olbermann, who has lead all polls as the least-liked, most polarizing.

  • http://www.daveinboca.blogspot.com/ daveinboca

    Take a personality like Anderson Cooper. The guy seems charasmatic and I believe he’s good looking (I don’t personally swing that way but I’ve been told). Yet he gets trounced. Last I checked his ratings were in a free fall in fact

    Right after he started using the gay sexual trope of “teabagger,” Cooper showed he was a low class sh*tslinger—period. His numbers started trending downward back then and now are in a place appropriate for someone using a sexual slur on a news show. He will continue to hemorrhage even with gigs on 60 Minutes & elsewhere. Cooper showed he was no better than Olbermann, who has lead all polls as the least-liked, most polarizing.

  • http://www.daveinboca.blogspot.com daveinboca

    Take a personality like Anderson Cooper. The guy seems charasmatic and I believe he’s good looking (I don’t personally swing that way but I’ve been told). Yet he gets trounced. Last I checked his ratings were in a free fall in fact

    Right after he started using the gay sexual trope of “teabagger,” Cooper showed he was a low class sh*tslinger—period. His numbers started trending downward back then and now are in a place appropriate for someone using a sexual slur on a news show. He will continue to hemorrhage even with gigs on 60 Minutes & elsewhere. Cooper showed he was no better than Olbermann, who has lead all polls as the least-liked, most polarizing.

  • Delores

    What’s with the 20 year old picture of Bill?

  • Delores

    What’s with the 20 year old picture of Bill?

  • http://breakingthenewsbarrier.com/breaknewblogs/?p=4466 U.S. News, Massachusetts | … BreakingtheNewsBarrier.com …

    [...] news week Los Angeles Times (blog) Fox News soars to top of all cable TV channels Baltimore Sun TVbytheNumbers - New York Magazine all 33 news articles » Email this story Boston [...]

  • JohnInOhio

    I agree with daveinboca. If Cooper is going to follow in the footsteps of dolts like Olberman and Maddow, then he’s showing his true colors, and obviously, people are defecting from CNN and MSNBC in droves with Fox beating CNN more than 3:1 and MSNBC isn’t even on the radar. More people are listening to talk radio than watching those mud slingers.

  • JohnInOhio

    I agree with daveinboca. If Cooper is going to follow in the footsteps of dolts like Olberman and Maddow, then he’s showing his true colors, and obviously, people are defecting from CNN and MSNBC in droves with Fox beating CNN more than 3:1 and MSNBC isn’t even on the radar. More people are listening to talk radio than watching those mud slingers.

  • JohnInOhio

    I agree with daveinboca. If Cooper is going to follow in the footsteps of dolts like Olberman and Maddow, then he’s showing his true colors, and obviously, people are defecting from CNN and MSNBC in droves with Fox beating CNN more than 3:1 and MSNBC isn’t even on the radar. More people are listening to talk radio than watching those mud slingers.

  • Hal Armstrong

    Fox News is called “right wing” but this is actually an illusion. They tell both sides and, thus, have more conservative coverage than other networks that only present the liberal view. I like the fact that they will balance a Hannity with a Juan Williams and a Dick Morris with a Bob Bechel. We get both viewpoints and are allowed to evaluate which we prefer rather than being told what to think as on CBS, MSN, etc.

  • Hal Armstrong

    Fox News is called “right wing” but this is actually an illusion. They tell both sides and, thus, have more conservative coverage than other networks that only present the liberal view. I like the fact that they will balance a Hannity with a Juan Williams and a Dick Morris with a Bob Bechel. We get both viewpoints and are allowed to evaluate which we prefer rather than being told what to think as on CBS, MSN, etc.

  • Hal Armstrong

    Fox News is called “right wing” but this is actually an illusion. They tell both sides and, thus, have more conservative coverage than other networks that only present the liberal view. I like the fact that they will balance a Hannity with a Juan Williams and a Dick Morris with a Bob Bechel. We get both viewpoints and are allowed to evaluate which we prefer rather than being told what to think as on CBS, MSN, etc.

  • http://FOXNewsTops Writewing

    MSNBC and CNN are not only staffed with obvious leftwing biased talking heads, their mgts have decided that the only way to remain viable at all is to go for the liberal-left audience (however small that is compared to the vast audience open-minded, independents and avodly rightwing viewers who watch FOX News).
    Once Comcast acquires NBC, I would not be surprised to see a major shift in the editorial slant of the news organizations, as the existing business model is clearly flawed, and Comcast is interested in one thing: profit. FOX News has shown where the sweet-spot is.

  • Gymo

    Isn’t Network News about 40 million people? I just don’t see the reason to get so excited about FOXN numbers, is it just me, or is this just a niche market?

  • Gymo

    Isn’t Network News about 40 million people? I just don’t see the reason to get so excited about FOXN numbers, is it just me, or is this just a niche market?

  • Gymo

    Isn’t Network News about 40 million people? I just don’t see the reason to get so excited about FOXN numbers, is it just me, or is this just a niche market?

  • http://tvbythenumbers.com/ Bill Gorman

    Typical recent Broadcast Evening News 30 minute show viewership averages (boosted about 10% from most of the past year, likely due to Haiti):

    NBC: 10.5 million
    ABC: 9.5 million
    CBS: 7.1 million

    I find everyone comparing the broadcast evening news with cable news numbers to be silly though. Those broadcast averages are for a 30 minute show 5 days a week. The primetime cable averages in this post are for a 3 hour primetime period 7 days a week. Completely apples to oranges, and silly to compare.

  • http://tvbythenumbers.com Bill Gorman

    Typical recent Broadcast Evening News 30 minute show viewership averages (boosted about 10% from most of the past year, likely due to Haiti):

    NBC: 10.5 million
    ABC: 9.5 million
    CBS: 7.1 million

    I find everyone comparing the broadcast evening news with cable news numbers to be silly though. Those broadcast averages are for a 30 minute show 5 days a week. The primetime cable averages in this post are for a 3 hour primetime period 7 days a week. Completely apples to oranges, and silly to compare.

  • Allen

    It does not surprise me abut Fox. I turn to MSNBC just to see if they can hold my attention and it makes you want to vomit. I also look at some of CNN the Blitzer and he can be tolerated a little better than Chris, Oberman and Rachel. However, I always go back to Fox, Shep is the only one I cannot take sometimes. Eventually, even CNN will have to face the fact that Obama is not trusted by most Americans.

  • Allen

    It does not surprise me abut Fox. I turn to MSNBC just to see if they can hold my attention and it makes you want to vomit. I also look at some of CNN the Blitzer and he can be tolerated a little better than Chris, Oberman and Rachel. However, I always go back to Fox, Shep is the only one I cannot take sometimes. Eventually, even CNN will have to face the fact that Obama is not trusted by most Americans.

  • Allen

    It does not surprise me abut Fox. I turn to MSNBC just to see if they can hold my attention and it makes you want to vomit. I also look at some of CNN the Blitzer and he can be tolerated a little better than Chris, Oberman and Rachel. However, I always go back to Fox, Shep is the only one I cannot take sometimes. Eventually, even CNN will have to face the fact that Obama is not trusted by most Americans.

  • Duff

    “It does not surprise me abut Fox. I turn to MSNBC just to see if they can hold my attention and it makes you want to vomit. I also look at some of CNN the Blitzer and he can be tolerated a little better than Chris, Oberman and Rachel. However, I always go back to Fox, Shep is the only one I cannot take sometimes. Eventually, even CNN will have to face the fact that Obama is not trusted by most Americans.”

    Funny, I say the same thing about Fox. I last about a minute and I want to throw up.

    You’re telling me that O’Reilly, Hannity, Beck, and their guests like Morris, Ingram, and the like are not a bunch of one-sided, self promoting (all they do is sell books and BLOVIATE about how good they are) talking heads. Talk about being lectured to. When you can accurately predict their response to every news event then they are obviosly not fair and balanced. I mean really, three sentences out of Dick Morris’ mouth and I need to take a shower.

    The bottom line is, none of it’s news. It’s all scrpipted entertainment to convey the station’s editotial agenda. Do you really think the Fox and Friends crew in the morning are capable of an independent thought. The whole fake sitting on the couch thing like they are your friend in your living room (on any station – GMA, Today, Morning Joe included) is insulting to our inteligence.

    Amazingly, the ONLY one I can watch on Fox is Shep. He does the news and interest stories. Very little political content other than to report. Same thing with CNN and Wolf. At least you can find out what happened during the day without being told what to think and listening to shots at the other party or “news” station.

    They all stretch and outright misrepresent the facts and arrange them to fit their predictable. It’s no longer news, it’s scrpited reallity TV.

    I don’t care what side you’re on, these political opinion (fake news shows) are dividing this nation and will result in the financial ruin of several generations to come. It’s relentles BS on both sides.

    I only replied because I had the exact opisite opinion to the post above. Nothing wrong with that, just different.

  • Duff

    “It does not surprise me abut Fox. I turn to MSNBC just to see if they can hold my attention and it makes you want to vomit. I also look at some of CNN the Blitzer and he can be tolerated a little better than Chris, Oberman and Rachel. However, I always go back to Fox, Shep is the only one I cannot take sometimes. Eventually, even CNN will have to face the fact that Obama is not trusted by most Americans.”

    Funny, I say the same thing about Fox. I last about a minute and I want to throw up.

    You’re telling me that O’Reilly, Hannity, Beck, and their guests like Morris, Ingram, and the like are not a bunch of one-sided, self promoting (all they do is sell books and BLOVIATE about how good they are) talking heads. Talk about being lectured to. When you can accurately predict their response to every news event then they are obviosly not fair and balanced. I mean really, three sentences out of Dick Morris’ mouth and I need to take a shower.

    The bottom line is, none of it’s news. It’s all scrpipted entertainment to convey the station’s editotial agenda. Do you really think the Fox and Friends crew in the morning are capable of an independent thought. The whole fake sitting on the couch thing like they are your friend in your living room (on any station – GMA, Today, Morning Joe included) is insulting to our inteligence.

    Amazingly, the ONLY one I can watch on Fox is Shep. He does the news and interest stories. Very little political content other than to report. Same thing with CNN and Wolf. At least you can find out what happened during the day without being told what to think and listening to shots at the other party or “news” station.

    They all stretch and outright misrepresent the facts and arrange them to fit their predictable. It’s no longer news, it’s scrpited reallity TV.

    I don’t care what side you’re on, these political opinion (fake news shows) are dividing this nation and will result in the financial ruin of several generations to come. It’s relentles BS on both sides.

    I only replied because I had the exact opisite opinion to the post above. Nothing wrong with that, just different.

  • Duff

    “It does not surprise me abut Fox. I turn to MSNBC just to see if they can hold my attention and it makes you want to vomit. I also look at some of CNN the Blitzer and he can be tolerated a little better than Chris, Oberman and Rachel. However, I always go back to Fox, Shep is the only one I cannot take sometimes. Eventually, even CNN will have to face the fact that Obama is not trusted by most Americans.”

    Funny, I say the same thing about Fox. I last about a minute and I want to throw up.

    You’re telling me that O’Reilly, Hannity, Beck, and their guests like Morris, Ingram, and the like are not a bunch of one-sided, self promoting (all they do is sell books and BLOVIATE about how good they are) talking heads. Talk about being lectured to. When you can accurately predict their response to every news event then they are obviosly not fair and balanced. I mean really, three sentences out of Dick Morris’ mouth and I need to take a shower.

    The bottom line is, none of it’s news. It’s all scrpipted entertainment to convey the station’s editotial agenda. Do you really think the Fox and Friends crew in the morning are capable of an independent thought. The whole fake sitting on the couch thing like they are your friend in your living room (on any station – GMA, Today, Morning Joe included) is insulting to our inteligence.

    Amazingly, the ONLY one I can watch on Fox is Shep. He does the news and interest stories. Very little political content other than to report. Same thing with CNN and Wolf. At least you can find out what happened during the day without being told what to think and listening to shots at the other party or “news” station.

    They all stretch and outright misrepresent the facts and arrange them to fit their predictable. It’s no longer news, it’s scrpited reallity TV.

    I don’t care what side you’re on, these political opinion (fake news shows) are dividing this nation and will result in the financial ruin of several generations to come. It’s relentles BS on both sides.

    I only replied because I had the exact opisite opinion to the post above. Nothing wrong with that, just different.

  • bruce

    Maybe Obama will relent and come on O’Reilly’s show. Where else is the Prez going to get anybody to watch his buffoonery?

  • bruce

    Maybe Obama will relent and come on O’Reilly’s show. Where else is the Prez going to get anybody to watch his buffoonery?

  • bruce

    Maybe Obama will relent and come on O’Reilly’s show. Where else is the Prez going to get anybody to watch his buffoonery?

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