Predictably, CNN’s coverage of the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton scored the top spot in the Monday cable ratings this week with a 3.6 rating in adults 18-49. Fox News’ broadcast of the debate meanwhile, scored lower than CNN’s with a 2.3 for the network, though their post-debate analysis did perform well with a 2.1.
ESPN’s coverage of the Atlanta vs New Orleans NFL game grabbed a 3.1 as well, lower than the network’s previous 4.5 rating in the same time slot last week. A late-night edition of “SportsCenter” however, scored a 1.3 for the second week in a row.
USA’s “WWE Monday Night Raw” dipped to a 1.0 peak rating, one tenth lower than its previous 1.1 as well, while “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood” held steady with a 1.1 for VH1.
Top 100 cable shows among adults 18-49 for Monday, Sept. 26, 2016
| Show | Net | Time | Total Viewers (000s) | 18-49 rating |
| 1ST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE | CNN | 9:03 PM | 9,935 | 3.6 |
| NFL REGULAR SEASON L | ESPN | 8:15 PM | 8,047 | 3.1 |
| PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE | FOX NEWS CHANNEL | 9:03 PM | 11,427 | 2.3 |
| DEBATE NIGHT IN AMERICA | CNN | 10:38 PM | 6,923 | 2.2 |
| PRES DEBATE/ANALYSIS | FOX NEWS CHANNEL | 10:40 PM | 9,975 | 2.1 |
| SPORTSCENTER: L | ESPN | 11:37 PM | 2,650 | 1.3 |
| ANDERSON COOPER 360 | CNN | 8:00 PM | 3,781 | 1.2 |
| DEBATE | MSNBC | 9:03 PM | 4,914 | 1.1 |
| KELLY FILE, THE | FOX NEWS CHANNEL | 11:00 PM | 5,366 | 1.1 |
| LOVE & HIP HOP HLLYWD 3 | VH1 | 8:00 PM | 2,102 | 1.1 |
| WWE ENTERTAINMENT 9-26 | USA NETWORK | 8:00 PM | 2,850 | 1.0 |
| DEBATE NIGHT IN AMERICA | CNN | 12:00 AM | 3,154 | 0.9 |
| MSNBC DEBATE ANALYSIS | MSNBC | 10:40 PM | 4,098 | 0.8 |
| WWE ENTERTAINMENT 9-26 | USA NETWORK | 9:00 PM | 2,381 | 0.8 |
| FAMILY GUY | ADULT SWIM | 11:30 PM | 1,632 | 0.8 |
| WWE ENTERTAINMENT 9-26 | USA NETWORK | 10:00 PM | 2,203 | 0.7 |
| THE OREILLY FACTOR | FOX NEWS CHANNEL | 8:00 PM | 4,842 | 0.7 |
| FAMILY GUY | ADULT SWIM | 11:00 PM | 1,548 | 0.7 |
| TEEN MOM SSN 6 | MTV | 9:00 PM | 1,109 | 0.7 |
| NFL PRIMETIME | ESPN | 1:00 AM | 1,215 | 0.6 |
| ROBOT CHICKEN | ADULT SWIM | 12:00 AM | 1,199 | 0.6 |
| ROBOT CHICKEN | ADULT SWIM | 12:15 AM | 1,119 | 0.6 |
| MONDAY NIGHT COUNTDOWN L | ESPN | 6:00 PM | 1,434 | 0.6 |
| REAL HOUSEWIVES OF OC | BRAVO | 9:00 PM | 1,445 | 0.6 |
| BOBS BURGERS | ADULT SWIM | 10:30 PM | 1,208 | 0.5 |
| HANNITY | FOX NEWS CHANNEL | 12:00 AM | 2,619 | 0.5 |
| 1ST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE | CNN | 1:00 AM | 1,531 | 0.5 |
| SQUIDBILLIES | ADULT SWIM | 12:30 AM | 989 | 0.5 |
| AMERICAN DAD | ADULT SWIM | 10:00 PM | 1,088 | 0.5 |
| SPORTSCENTER: | ESPN | 2:00 AM | 845 | 0.4 |
| SQUIDBILLIES | ADULT SWIM | 12:45 AM | 888 | 0.4 |
| AQUA TEEN HUNGERFORCE | ADULT SWIM | 1:00 AM | 836 | 0.4 |
| BASKETBALL WIVES LA 5 | VH1 | 9:00 PM | 790 | 0.4 |
| LOVE & HIP HOP HLLYWD 3 | VH1 | 10:00 PM | 732 | 0.4 |
| PARDON THE INTERRUPTION | ESPN | 5:30 PM | 1,011 | 0.4 |
| FRIENDS | NICK-AT-NITE | 11:30 PM | 886 | 0.4 |
| RICK & MORTY | ADULT SWIM | 3:00 AM | 887 | 0.4 |
| AMERICAN DAD | ADULT SWIM | 1:30 AM | 806 | 0.4 |
| CLEVELAND SHOW, THE | ADULT SWIM | 9:30 PM | 886 | 0.4 |
| ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT | CNN | 7:00 PM | 1,474 | 0.4 |
| FAMILY GUY | TBS NETWORK | 8:00 PM | 736 | 0.4 |
| DECKER: UNCLASSIFIED | ADULT SWIM | 1:15 AM | 805 | 0.4 |
| FRIENDS | NICK-AT-NITE | 12:00 AM | 741 | 0.4 |
| NCIS | USA NETWORK | 7:00 PM | 1,571 | 0.4 |
| FRIENDS | NICK-AT-NITE | 11:00 PM | 796 | 0.4 |
| SQUIDBILLIES | ADULT SWIM | 3:30 AM | 794 | 0.4 |
| AMERICAN DAD | TBS NETWORK | 8:30 PM | 645 | 0.4 |
| FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR | NICK-AT-NITE | 2:45 AM | 707 | 0.4 |
| MSNBC DEBATE ANALYSIS | MSNBC | 12:00 AM | 1,884 | 0.4 |
| PAW PATROL | NICKELODEON | 12:30 PM | 1,272 | 0.4 |
| GEORGE LOPEZ | NICK-AT-NITE | 6:00 AM | 725 | 0.3 |
| DEBATE NIGHT IN AMERICA | CNN | 2:35 AM | 1,126 | 0.3 |
| DAILY SHOW | COMEDY CENTRAL | 11:00 PM | 817 | 0.3 |
| FAMILY GUY | ADULT SWIM | 2:30 AM | 731 | 0.3 |
| GEORGE LOPEZ | NICK-AT-NITE | 4:24 AM | 731 | 0.3 |
| BOBS BURGERS | ADULT SWIM | 2:00 AM | 732 | 0.3 |
| FRIENDS | NICK-AT-NITE | 12:33 AM | 708 | 0.3 |
| BRAD NEELYS HARG NALLIN S | ADULT SWIM | 3:45 AM | 747 | 0.3 |
| GEORGE LOPEZ | NICK-AT-NITE | 5:29 AM | 727 | 0.3 |
| PAW PATROL | NICKELODEON | 1:00 PM | 1,264 | 0.3 |
| GEORGE LOPEZ | NICK-AT-NITE | 4:57 AM | 697 | 0.3 |
| GEORGE LOPEZ | NICK-AT-NITE | 3:18 AM | 676 | 0.3 |
| GEORGE LOPEZ | NICK-AT-NITE | 3:51 AM | 679 | 0.3 |
| ON THE RECORD WITH BRIT | FOX NEWS CHANNEL | 7:00 PM | 2,766 | 0.3 |
| MSNBC DEBATE PREVIEW | MSNBC | 7:00 PM | 1,791 | 0.3 |
| GEORGE LOPEZ | NICK-AT-NITE | 6:30 AM | 684 | 0.3 |
| PAW PATROL | NICKELODEON | 12:00 PM | 1,150 | 0.3 |
| SPONGEBOB | NICKELODEON | 7:00 AM | 834 | 0.3 |
| NCIS | USA NETWORK | 6:00 PM | 1,440 | 0.3 |
| SPONGEBOB | NICKELODEON | 4:00 PM | 1,400 | 0.3 |
| RICK & MORTY | ADULT SWIM | 4:00 AM | 701 | 0.3 |
| SPONGEBOB | NICKELODEON | 3:30 PM | 1,333 | 0.3 |
| PAW PATROL | NICKELODEON | 9:00 AM | 1,013 | 0.3 |
| SYFY MOVIE | SYFY | 6:00 PM | 904 | 0.3 |
| FAMILY GUY | TBS NETWORK | 9:30 PM | 554 | 0.3 |
| SPONGEBOB | NICKELODEON | 7:30 AM | 914 | 0.3 |
| AROUND THE HORN | ESPN | 5:00 PM | 706 | 0.3 |
| FAMILY GUY | TBS NETWORK | 7:30 PM | 615 | 0.3 |
| BUBBLE GUPPIES | NICKELODEON | 11:30 AM | 1,063 | 0.3 |
| HANNITY | FOX NEWS CHANNEL | 1:00 AM | 1,677 | 0.3 |
| TEAM UMIZOOMI | NICKELODEON | 10:30 AM | 1,000 | 0.3 |
| MIKE TYSON MYSTERIES | ADULT SWIM | 4:30 AM | 643 | 0.3 |
| FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR | NICK-AT-NITE | 1:06 AM | 591 | 0.3 |
| AMERICAN DAD | TBS NETWORK | 2:00 PM | 542 | 0.3 |
| FAMILY GUY | TBS NETWORK | 7:00 PM | 608 | 0.3 |
| BUBBLE GUPPIES | NICKELODEON | 11:00 AM | 1,026 | 0.3 |
| SPONGEBOB | NICKELODEON | 8:00 AM | 918 | 0.3 |
| KING OF THE HILL | ADULT SWIM | 5:30 AM | 637 | 0.3 |
| LOUD HOUSE | NICKELODEON | 4:30 PM | 1,509 | 0.3 |
| AMERICAN DAD | TBS NETWORK | 9:00 PM | 578 | 0.3 |
| BLAZE & THE MONSTER MCHNS | NICKELODEON | 1:30 PM | 1,127 | 0.3 |
| REGULAR SHOW | THE CARTOON NETWORK | 8:00 PM | 1,142 | 0.3 |
| KING OF THE HILL | ADULT SWIM | 9:00 PM | 736 | 0.3 |
| KING OF THE HILL | ADULT SWIM | 5:00 AM | 617 | 0.3 |
| MIKE TYSON MYSTERIES | ADULT SWIM | 4:45 AM | 613 | 0.3 |
| AMERICAN DAD | TBS NETWORK | 1:30 PM | 516 | 0.3 |
| FRESH PRINCE OF BEL AIR | NICK-AT-NITE | 1:39 AM | 568 | 0.3 |
| E! NEWS | E! | 7:00 PM | 603 | 0.3 |
| FAMILY GUY | TBS NETWORK | 6:30 PM | 561 | 0.3 |
| FX MOVIE LATE | FX | 11:00 PM | 524 | 0.3 |
Source: The Nielsen Company
