LOS ANGELES — CNN and Fox News Channel battled for viewers on the election day that turned into an election week and then some, each earning bragging rights.
CNN edged Fox among total viewers for the week, averaging 5.9 million viewers to Fox's 5.7 million. The latter was dominant on Tuesday as President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden faced off at the polls.
Fox averaged 14.1 million viewers Tuesday to CNN's 9.4 million, with MSNBC drawing 7.6 million, according to Nielsen figures. But CNN was tops among those watching Biden's Saturday evening speech after the race was called in his favor, with 13.5 million tuning in.
MSNBC's coverage of the event drew 9 million viewers, while Fox was watched by 3.1 million.
For the week, MSNBC averaged 4.6 million viewers.
Cable channels were the preferred option for those following the election, as the broadcast networks lagged behind individually and cumulatively. Their Tuesday viewership was ABC, 6.3 million; NBC, 5.8 million; CBS, 4.5 million.
Fox host Laura Ingraham's show, "The Ingraham Angle," had its highest-rated week ever, with an average of 4.9 million viewers.
Viewers also kept an eye on football and the pandemic-delayed season premieres of returning shows, including CBS' "Young Sheldon" and "NCIS: Los Angeles," each drawing 6 million-plus viewers.
