FOX News Channel Commands Largest Cable News Share in Its History as MSNBC and CNN Ratings Collapse Continues
FNC is Television's Most-Watched Primetime Channel Since Election, Only Network to Notch Growth Post-Election
MSNBC Audience Sinks by 47%, CNN Viewership Craters by 33%
FNC is Most-Watched Television Network on Election Day and During Vice President Harris' Concession Speech
‘Gutfeld!', ‘The Faulkner Focus', ‘Outnumbered' and ‘America Reports' Mark Highest-Rated Month Since Respective Launches
FOX News Channel (FNC) commanded its highest-share of the cable news audience in network history across total day, holding 62% of the cable news audience during the historic election month, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. Leading across every category, FNC marked 45 consecutive months as number one with cable news in primetime and total day in both viewers and the 25-54 demographic. In primetime (8 – 11 PM/ET), FNC delivered 3.2 million viewers and 476,000 in the 25-54 demographic, growing its audience 86% year-over-year in total viewership and 147% in the 25-54 demo. In total day, FNC drew 2 million viewers and 282,000 in the 25-54 demo, marking 67% growth year-over-year with viewers and 101% in the 25-54 demo. Once again, more Independents and Democrats continued to tune in to FNC over any other network with A25-54, according to data from Nielsen MRI Fusion. FNC was also number one in cable news with Asians, Hispanics and upscale viewers throughout total day. Additionally, FNC was November's fastest growing television network in both viewers and the 25-54 demographic. This month, FNC delivered 248 telecasts with over two million viewers, compared to MSNBC which saw just 14 and CNN with only ten.
Since election night, FNC has been the most-watched network in all of television in primetime, topping ABC, CBS, NBC and all cable networks with over four million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. The channel has also outpaced broadcast network CBS and cable during a historical breaking news year from the ill-fated Biden-Trump debate at the end of June through the end of November. Following the November 5th election, FNC's audience has risen 24% in primetime compared to year-to-date and the network now holds 73% of the cable news share as CNN (down 39%) and MSNBC (down 52%) have seen their audiences collapse to record lows in primetime. FNC increased its total day viewership increase by 32% compared to year-to-date. While FNC commands 3 million viewers and 382,000 in the 25-54 demo in primetime post-election, MSNBC has collapsed to 644,000 viewers and 63,000 in the 25-54 demo and CNN dropped to just 453,000 viewers and 92,000 in the 25-54 demo. Across total day, FNC has scored 1.9 million viewers and 249,000 in the 25-54 demo compared to CNN with just 357,000 viewers and 65,000 in the 25-54 demo and MSNBC's 497,000 viewers and only 49,000 in the 25-54 demo.
Notably, MSNBC's Morning Joe has seen 37% of its viewership flee after the co-hosts met with president-elect Trump, slumping to just 618,000 viewers and 49,000 in the 25-54 demo on November 20th, marking a low going back to 2021. Numerous other shows on MSNBC have marked all-time lows in the 25-54 demo including Jose-Diaz Balart Reports, 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle, Ana Cabrera Reports, Chris Jansing Reports, Katy Tur Reports and The Reidout.
On Election Day, FOX News Media's primetime coverage of election night across FNC, FOX Network, FOX Business Network (FBN) and FOX News Digital topped all television networks with nearly 13.6 million viewers and 4.4 million in the 25-54 demo. FNC's Democracy 2024 primetime coverage averaged nearly 10.8 million in total viewers and 3.3 million in the 25-54 younger demographic, dominating the competition in both categories and beating ABC, NBC, CBS and all cable news networks for the second election in a row. Co-anchored by Special Report's Bret Baier and The Story's Martha MacCallum, the network's marathon coverage from 6 PM - 3 AM/ET averaged 8.6 million viewers and 2.6 million in the 25-54 demo, leading all of television. FNC's coverage peaked during the 10 PM/ET hour with 11.2 million viewers and 3.5 million in the 25-54 demo, which was the top telecast of the week, even surpassing Monday Night Football on ESPN. Across total day, FNC also reigned supreme, averaging 4.9 million viewers and 1.3 million in the younger 25-54 demo for the duration of Election Day coverage. In the 1 AM/ET hour, FNC's Decision Desk was the first major network to call the race for former President Donald Trump and the channel commanded over 7.4 million viewers and 2.4 million in the 25-54 demo, leading CNN and MSNBC combined. In terms of cable news share, FNC occupied 48% of viewers in primetime and 50% across total day.
FNC's special coverage of Vice President Kamala Harris' concession speech was number one in television on November 6th, delivering nearly 8 million viewers and 1.4 million in the 25-54 demo. Anchored by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, the FOX News Democracy 24 special coverage from 4:15-4:45 PM/ET set a record for post-election coverage and commanded 64% of the cable news audience. Comparatively CNN struggled to 2.2 million viewers and 555,000 in the 25-54 demo and MSNBC saw 2.3 million viewers and 353,000 in the 25-54 demo. According to Nielsen numbers, ABC saw just 2.4 million viewers and 572,000 in the 25-54 demo, NBC averaged only 1.7 million viewers and 396,000 in the 25-54 demo during and CBS lagged behind with 1.5 million viewers and 327,000 in the 25-54 demo during the speech.
At 5 PM/ET, FNC's The Five secured 4.4 million viewers and 510,000 in 25-54 demo, leading all of cable news among total viewership and the younger demo for the month. FNC's primetime lineup once again swept the competition every hour, beginning at 7 PM/ET with FNC's The Ingraham Angle averaging 3.3 million viewers and 427,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 8 PM/ET Jesse Watters Primetime commanded 3.9 million viewers and 503,000 in the 25-54 demo. Winning the 9 PM/ET hour across the board, FNC's Hannity remained dominant with 3.2 million viewers and 424,000 in the 25-54 demo, nearly doubling MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show was saw just 223,000 in the 25-54 demo
FNC's hit late-night program Gutfeld! (10 PM/ET) marked its best month since launch and continued as the genre's most watched in broadcast and cable television, sweeping both total viewers and the 25-54 demo. Notching over 3.3 million viewers, 480,000 in 25-54, Gutfeld! outranked CBS' The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC's The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS' After Midnight and Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart across the board.
The network's nightly newscast, Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET), averaged 3.3 million viewers and 404,000 in 25-54 demo. Closing the night at 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night also surpassed the competition, delivering 1.9 million viewers and 294,000 in the 25-54 demo.
From 5-6 AM/ET, FOX & Friends FIRST netted 755,000 viewers while FNC's signature morning show FOX & Friends (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) finished the month with 1.6 million viewers and 218,000 in the demo. The program has remained the number one cable news program in the mornings with both categories for more than three straight years and 45 consecutive months in 25-54 demo.
FNC's daytime lineup, led by two-hour morning news program America's Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET), saw 2.2 million viewers and 270,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, notched 2.4 million viewers and 293,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered earned 2.5 million viewers and 305,000 in the demo. Notably, the day after the election, The Faulkner Focus and America's Newsroom led ABC's The View with total viewers. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith also garnered 2.2 million viewers and 287,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 3 PM/ET, anchor Martha MacCallum's The Story averaged 2.1 million viewers and 265,000 in the 25-54 demo as Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4 PM/ET nabbed 2.2 million viewers and 285,000 in the 25-54 category for the month. The Faulkner Focus, Outnumbered and America Reports all delivered their best months since launch with viewers.
FNC also continued to excel against the competition throughout the weekend for the month, winning every hour with total viewers and 25-54 demo, defeating CNN and MSNBC by double to triple-digits among both categories on both days. On Saturdays, Life, Liberty & Levin was most watched show, drawing 1.8 million viewers, while FOX & Friends Weekend led in the 25-54 demo with 193,000 A25-54. The Big Weekend Show (weekends, 7 PM/ET) followed with 1.7 million viewers and 175,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX Report with Jon Scott nabbed 1.3 million viewers (146,000 A25-54) and FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla attracted 1.3 million viewers (165,000 A25-54.) One Nation with Brian Kilmeade drew 1.6 million viewers and 160,000 in the 25-54 demo.
On Sundays, FNC's Sunday Morning Futures earned the top-rated show of the day, garnering 1.9 million viewers and 205,000 with 25-54 demo. The Big Weekend Show followed with 1.6 million viewers and 177,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX & Friends Sunday also outpaced every CNN and MSNBC program in viewers, with 1.5 million viewers and 168,000 in 25-54 demo. At 11 AM/ET, MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz, delivered 1.5 million viewers and 176,000 in the 25-54 demo while Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy garnered 1.6 million viewers and 127,000 A25-54.
FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service and has been the number one network in basic cable for the last eight years and the most-watched television news channel for more than 22 consecutive years, currently attracting nearly 50% of the cable news viewing audience according to Nielsen Media Research. Notably, Nielsen/MRI Fusion has consistently shown FNC to be the network of choice for more Democrat and Independent viewers, with the most politically diverse audience in cable news. A 2024 Pew Research Center study found that more Americans named FNC as their main source for political news than any other network while a 2023 New York Times/Siena College poll found FNC as the leading single source of news for voters across the country. Owned by Fox Corporation, FNC is available in nearly 70 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top 10 programs in the genre.
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