Fox News regains top spot in ratings for primetime cable TV news, after surprise MSNBC takeover

Fox News retook the No. 1 primetime cable spot the week of June 12, regaining it from the more liberal-leaning MSNBC that historically runs in second or third during that time period. 

Fox News' ratings dipped in May, after the firing of popular 8 p.m. show host Tucker Carlson, according to Deadline.

MSNBC, which competes more directly with CNN for viewership, was able to climb in the ratings in large part because of its coverage of former President Donald Trump's June 13 indictment, according to Forbes.

Fox held a 120-week No. 1 primetime streak before being overtaken by MSNBC in early June, Forbes also reports.

Fox News managed to bounce back, averaging 1.06 million viewers a day from June 12-18, outpacing MSNBC’s average of 856,000 viewers and CNN’s 628,000, according to Nielsen, a firm that tracks TV viewership.

The Top 4 highest-rated programs on cable TV last week were held by Fox News including "The Five" and "Hannity."

Coverage of Trump’s June 13 arraignment in Miami on federal criminal charges in connection with his handling of classified documents after he left the White House boosted daytime cable ratings across the board.

Still, MSNBC and Fox News’ arraignment coverage was below the final game of the NHL Stanley Cup Championship in terms of ratings, with roughly 2.47 million viewers watching on the cable TNT network.