The Hallmark Channel has quietly surged past MSNBC and CNN in ratings during a season dominated by festive films. Known for its feel-good holiday programming, the network has steadily climbed the viewership ranks since the launch of its Christmas movie lineup on October 18.
According to Nielsen data, Hallmark averaged 526,000 viewers at any given time during the week of November 18 to 24. The impressive figure made the network the third most-watched cable channel overall, trailing only Fox News and ESPN. By comparison, MSNBC pulled in 458,000 viewers during the same period, while CNN lagged behind with 314,000.
The leap in popularity is notable, considering Hallmark ranked as the seventh most popular total-day channel during the week of its lineup’s debut according to Forbes. Back then, it averaged 387,000 viewers—a respectable number that has since ballooned thanks to its seasonal content.
The debut weekend of its first new Christmas movies made it the No. 1 entertainment cable network among women aged 18 and older. It surpassed competitors like HGTV, Investigation Discovery, and TLC, proving that its formula of romance, family, and holiday magic continues to resonate.
Hallmark’s ratings triumph also comes at a time when traditional news channels like