The week beginning July 4 marked the 73rd consecutive week that Fox News Channel averaged more total viewers in total day and primetime than its cable news competition. Fox News is also the No. 1 basic cable outlet in average total viewers and among adults 25-54, both in total day and also in primetime, for the second consecutive week.

TVNewser reports that according to “live plus same day data from Nielsen, Fox News averaged 1.95 million total viewers in primetime this past week, No. 1 on basic cable but -6% from what the network averaged during the previous week.  FNC also averaged 288,000 adults 25-54 in primetime, No. 1 on basic cable and +2% from the week prior. Moving to total day, Fox News’ 1.31 million total viewer average is No. 1 on basic cable—and -4% from the network posted in the daypart the previous week. FNC also averaged 198,000 adults 25-54 in total day, No. 1 on basic cable but -1% with the prior week.

“CNN notched a third consecutive week of primetime viewer growth after what was an especially rough ratings stretch. The network hauled in an average of 705,000 total viewers in primetime during the week of July 4. That places CNN at No. 9 on basic cable and up +5% from the week prior, but fewer than Fox News or MSNBC. CNN’s A25-54 viewership in primetime (152,000) ranks No. 18 on basic cable and is also up from the prior week (+6%), and more than what MSNBC averaged in the daypart. CNN’s solid growth in primetime was aided by its highly-rated July 4 special broadcast live last Monday evening. In total day, the story was different. CNN averaged 538,000 total viewers, which is -5% from the prior week. The network fell to No. 5 on basic cable in total day viewers. CNN did manage to beat MSNBC when it came to adults 25-54 in total day (111,000, -8% week-to-week), placing No. 13 for the week in the measurement.

“MSNBC struggled the most during the week that started with the Fourth of July holiday. After back-to-back weeks as the second-most-watched cable network, MSNBC dropped to No. 4, drawing just 982,000 in primetime on average last week.  That’s -28% from what the network averaged in the daypart the previous week. MSNBC averaged just 92,000 adults 25-54 in primetime, No. 33 on basic cable and -40% from the prior week.  In total day, the network averaged 666,000 total viewers in total day this past week, No. 2 on basic cable but -21% from the prior week. MSNBC also averaged 73,000 adults 25-54 in total day, which is -26% from the prior week and No. 25 overall on basic cable.’

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IMAGE:  TVNewser