FNC Again Occupies More Than Three Quarters of the Primetime Audience Among Cable News
FOX News Channel (FNC) for the third consecutive night, trounced all of television for coverage of the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Wednesday, July 17th, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. Occupying 76% of the primetime viewers, FNC remains the only network to grow its audience each night in primetime versus its 2016 RNC average. In contrast, the competition on CNN and MSNBC continued to dwindle, with CNN failing to reach 1 million viewers and shedding double-digits of their audience compared to the 2016 RNC. (CNN: -62% in total day and -67% in primetime) and (MSNBC: -26% in total day and -37% in primetime.)
For the three-day average of the RNC thus far, FNC has delivered 6 million viewers, a double-digit increase from 2016 and 2.8 million viewers in total day, also growing 23% in viewership. In primetime, CNN has averaged only 975,000 viewers and 524,000 in total day, losing 69% and 59% of its audience, respectively. MSNBC drew 684,000 viewers in total day, a 24% decline versus 2016 and 1.1 million in primetime, a 36% drop off.
FNC’s special coverage FOX News Democracy 2024: The Republican National Convention co-anchored by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum (10 – 11:30 PM/ET) which featured vice-presidential candidate JD Vance’s speech averaged over 7 million viewers and 1,252,000 in A25-54, notching a 474% total viewer and 250% 25-54 demo advantage over CNN and a 638% and 776% advantage over MSNBC from 10:45-11:30 PM/ET. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity delivered 6.2 million viewers and 982,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating the competition with triple-digit percentages and again finishing as the most-watched program of the night.
Originating from Milwaukee, Wisconsin the network’s programming delivered 6.4 million in primetime (8-11 PM/ET) and 994,000 in the 25-54 demo. In total day (3-3 AM/ET), the network notched over 2.8 million viewers and 402,000 in the 25-54 demo. Throughout primetime, FNC’s signature lineup crushed every hour among the competition, leading with The Ingraham Angle at 7 PM/ET (4.2 million P2+ and 567,000 A25-54) and Jesse Watters Primetime at 8 PM/ET secured nearly 6 million viewers and 795,000 in the 25-54 demo. Late-night show Gutfeld!, which aired in front of a live audience in Milwaukee from 11:30 PM/ET – 12:30 AM/ET, drew 3.3 million viewers and 631,000 in the 25-54 demo.
At 5 PM/ET, FNC’s powerhouse program and the year’s most-watched show in all of cable news, The Five, delivered 4.4 million viewers and 442,000 in the 25-54 demo. Following the hour, Special Report with Bret Baier had 3.6 million viewers and 457,000 in the 25-54 demo.
*DATA FROM NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH
8-11 PM/ET
FNC –6,365,000 P2+; 994,000 A25-54
CNN – 998,000 P2+; 293,000 A25-54
MSNBC – 1,034,000 P2+; 139,000 A25-54
3-3 AM/ET
FNC – 2,773,000 P2+; 402,000 A25-54
CNN – 474,000 P2+; 117,000 A25-54
MSNBC – 650,000 P2+; 70,000 A25-54
9-10 PM/ET
FNC – 6,199,000 P2+; 982,000 A25-54
CNN – 1,059,000 P2+; 308,000 A25-54
MSNBC – 1,206,000 P2+; 158,000 A25-54
10-11:30 PM/ET
FNC – 6,886,000 P2+; 1,204,000 A25-54
CNN – 1,224,000 P2+; 363,000 A25-54
MSNBC – 1,029,000 P2+; 141,000 A25-54
ABC – 1,937,000 P2+, 479,000 A25-54
CBS – 1,575,000 P2+, 332,000 A25-54
NBC – 2,695,000 P2+, 505,000 A25-54
11:30PM- 12:30AM/ET
FNC – 3,279,000 P2+; 631,000 A25-54
CNN – 711,000 P2+; 205,000 A25-54
MSNBC – 742,000 P2+; 92,000 A25-54
FOX News Media Contact:
Alexandra Coscia: 212.301.3272 or Alexandra.Coscia@FOX.com
