Sports programming ruled the cable rankings in the week of April 23.
Round 1 of the NFL Draft on ESPN finished first for the week in both adults 18-49 (2.1 rating) and total viewers (5.34 million). Playoff games from the NBA took up the next 10 spots in the 18-49 rankings and the next eight in viewers.
In both measures, the opening game of the second-round series between the Golden State Warriors and New Orleans Pelicans finished second (1.7 in adults 18-49, 4.56 million viewers).
Top 25 original cable shows in adults 18-49 for April 23-29, 2018
| Rank | Show | Net | Day | Time | 18-49 rating |
18-49 viewers (000s)*
|
| 1 | NFL DRAFT ROUND 1 | ESPN | Thurs. | 7:55 PM | 2.1 | 2,701 |
| 2 | NBA PLAYOFFS – PELICANS/WARRIORS GM 1 | TNT | Sat. | 10:36 PM | 1.7 | 2,189 |
| 3 | NBA PLAYOFFS – THUNDER/JAZZ GM 4 | TNT | Mon. | 10:38 PM | 1.6 | 2,099 |
| NBA PLAYOFFS – PACERS/CAVALIERS GM 5 | TNT | Weds. | 7:11 PM | 1.6 | 2,074 | |
| NBA PLAYOFFS – SPURS/WARRIORS GM 5 | TNT | Tues. | 10:45 PM | 1.6 | 2,010 | |
| NBA PLAYOFFS – BUCKS/CELTICS GM 7 | TNT | Sat. | 8:00 PM | 1.6 | 1,997 | |
| 7 | NBA PLAYOFFS – THUNDER/JAZZ GM 6 | ESPN | Fri. | 10:34 PM | 1.5 | 1,894 |
| NBA PLAYOFFS – T-WOLVES/ROCKETS GM 5 | TNT | Weds. | 9:49 PM | 1.5 | 1,856 | |
| 9 | NBA PLAYOFFS – HEAT/76ERS GM 5 | TNT | Tues. | 8:09 PM | 1.4 | 1,843 |
| NBA PLAYOFFS – ROCKETS/T-WOLVES GM 4 | TNT | Mon. | 8:09 PM | 1.4 | 1,779 | |
| NBA PLAYOFFS – CAVALIERS/PACERS GM 6 | ESPN | Fri. | 8:00 PM | 1.4 | 1,779 | |
| 12 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 8:00 PM | 1.1 | 1,395 |
| WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 9:00 PM | 1.1 | 1,395 | |
| 14 | LOVE & HIP HOP ATLANTA | VH1 | Mon. | 8:00 PM | 1.0 | 1,331 |
| WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 10:00 PM | 1.0 | 1,242 | |
| FEAR THE WALKING DEAD | AMC | Sun. | 9:00 PM | 1.0 | 1,242 | |
| 17 | JERSEY SHORE FAMILY VACATION | MTV | Thurs. | 8:00 PM | 0.9 | 1,152 |
| 18 | NBA PLAYOFFS – CELTICS/BUCKS GM 6 | TNT | Thurs. | 8:13 PM | 0.8 | 1,075 |
| WWE SMACKDOWN | USA | Tues. | 8:00 PM | 0.8 | 1,024 | |
| NFL DRAFT ROUND 1 | NFLN | Thurs. | 8:00 PM | 0.8 | 1,024 | |
| SPORTSCENTER | ESPN | Fri. | 1:14 AM | 0.8 | 1,024 | |
| INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | Mon. | 1:25 AM | 0.8 | 1,011 | |
| TEYANA & IMAN | VH1 | Mon. | 9:00 PM | 0.8 | 986 | |
| INSIDE THE NBA PLAYOFFS | TNT | Weds. | 12:15 AM | 0.8 | 973 | |
| NFL DRAFT | ESPN | Fri. | 6:56 PM | 0.8 | 960 |
*Adults 18-49 viewer figures are approximate.
Top 25 original cable shows in total viewers for April 23-29, 2018
| Rank | Show | Net | Day | Time |
Viewers (000s)
|
| 1 | NFL DRAFT ROUND 1 | ESPN | Thurs. | 7:55 PM | 5,336 |
| 2 | NBA PLAYOFFS – PELICANS/WARRIORS GM 1 | TNT | Sat. | 10:36 PM | 4,559 |
| 3 | NBA PLAYOFFS – PACERS/CAVALIERS GM 5 | TNT | Weds. | 7:11 PM | 4,069 |
| 4 | NBA PLAYOFFS – BUCKS/CELTICS GM 7 | TNT | Sat. | 8:00 PM | 4,060 |
| 5 | NBA PLAYOFFS – THUNDER/JAZZ GM 4 | TNT | Mon. | 10:38 PM | 3,874 |
| 6 | NBA PLAYOFFS – SPURS/WARRIORS GM 5 | TNT | Tues. | 10:45 PM | 3,766 |
| 7 | NBA PLAYOFFS – CAVALIERS/PACERS GM 6 | ESPN | Fri. | 8:00 PM | 3,642 |
| 8 | NBA PLAYOFFS – HEAT/76ERS GM 5 | TNT | Tues. | 8:09 PM | 3,610 |
| 9 | NBA PLAYOFFS – THUNDER/JAZZ GM 6 | ESPN | Fri. | 10:34 PM | 3,596 |
| 10 | HANNITY | FNC | Weds. | 9:00 PM | 3,508 |
| 11 | NBA PLAYOFFS – ROCKETS/T-WOLVES GM 4 | TNT | Mon. | 8:09 PM | 3,494 |
| 12 | NBA PLAYOFFS – T-WOLVES/ROCKETS GM 5 | TNT | Weds. | 9:49 PM | 3,459 |
| 13 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 8:00 PM | 3,283 |
| 14 | HANNITY | FNC | Mon. | 9:00 PM | 3,281 |
| 15 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 9:00 PM | 3,210 |
| 16 | HANNITY | FNC | Thurs. | 9:00 PM | 3,127 |
| 17 | SPECIAL REPORT W/BRET BAIER | FNC | Thurs. | 6:00 PM | 3,086 |
| 18 | THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW | MSNBC | Thurs. | 9:00 PM | 2,960 |
| 19 | THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW | MSNBC | Tues. | 9:00 PM | 2,943 |
| 20 | HANNITY | FNC | Tues. | 9:00 PM | 2,918 |
| 21 | WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW | USA | Mon. | 10:00 PM | 2,819 |
| 22 | TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT | FNC | Weds. | 8:00 PM | 2,785 |
| 23 | THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW | MSNBC | Weds. | 9:00 PM | 2,739 |
| 24 | THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW | MSNBC | Mon. | 9:00 PM | 2,733 |
| 25 | THE INGRAHAM ANGLE | FNC | Mon. | 10:00 PM | 2,722 |
All ratings are live + same-day. Source: The Nielsen Company.
