FNC Secures Top 603 Cable News Telecasts Post-Election, Continues to Hold 71% of Audience Share Post-Election
‘America’s Newsroom’, ‘The Faulkner Focus’, ‘Outnumbered’ and ‘America Reports’ Notch All Time Highs, ‘The Faulkner Focus’ Tops ABC’s ‘The View’ in January For the First Time Ever
CNN and MSNBC Reach New Lows, Delivering Lowest-Rated January Ever with Total Day and Primetime Demo
NEW YORK – January 28, 2025 – FOX News Channel (FNC) delivered its highest-rated January in cable news history and marked 23 consecutive years as the number one network in cable news, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. In primetime (8 – 11 PM/ET), FNC delivered 2.8 million viewers and 353,000 in the 25-54 demographic, growing its audience 40% year-over-year in total viewership and 61% in the 25-54 demo. In total day, FNC drew 1.9 million viewers and 253,000 in the 25-54 demo, marking 53% growth year-over-year with viewers and 70% in the 25-54 demo. Meanwhile CNN and MSNBC both saw all time January lows in the 25-54 demo with CNN slumping to 80,000 in total day and 118,000 in primetime, while MSNBC lagged to just 45,000 viewers in total day and 63,000 viewers in primetime. FNC commanded 67% of total day viewers and 69% of primetime viewers in January which was its second highest share in network history. Once again, more Independents and Democrats continued to tune in to FNC over any other network across total day, 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 January’s fastest growing cable news network in both viewers and the 25-54 demographic.
This month, FNC delivered the top 270 cable news telecasts and now occupies the top 603 telecasts post-election (11-6-24 through 1-26-24). Post-election, FNC now commands 71% of the cable news audience in primetime viewers and 69% in the 25-54 demo. MSNBC’s audience has dropped 63% in the younger 25-54 demo in primetime in A25-54 (55,000 viewers) and is down 53% in viewers with 630,000. CNN has lost nearly half of its primetime audience in A25-54 (86,000 viewers) and is down 42% in viewers with 427,000.
In commenting on the network’s January ratings, FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said, “As we mark 23 years as America’s most watched cable news network, I would like to thank our incredible team both on and off the camera for their dedication to delivering the best product in news. Each year, we surpass new milestones, continue to innovate, and outperform the competition due to their tireless efforts and I could not be prouder.”
FNC saw a number of all-time records for its programs during January. America’s Newsroom (9-11 AM/ET), The Faulkner Focus (11 AM/ET), Outnumbered (12 PM/ET) and America Reports (1-3 PM/ET) all saw their highest-rated months ever with viewers. Most notably, The Faulkner Focus (2,552,000 P2+) beat ABC’s The View (2,508,000 P2+) with viewers for the month for the first time ever. Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET), The Ingraham Angle (weeknights, 7 PM/ET) and FOX News @ Night (weeknights, 11 PM/ET) also each secured their best months since 2020.
FOX News Media’s special programming surrounding the inauguration of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance was the highest rated in cable news history. Additionally, FNC’s special coverage marked the highest non-primetime cable news telecast in history and posted triple digit increases versus the inauguration of President Joe Biden in 2021 and grew in viewership versus 2017. Coverage across FNC and FOX Business Network (FBN) peaked at 12 million viewers and 2.6 million in A25-54 in the 12 PM/ET hour. From 11:30 AM to 1 PM/ET, FNC’s Inauguration of Donald Trump, co-anchored by chief political anchor Special Report’s Bret Baier and anchor and executive editor of The Story Martha MacCallum, garnered 11.4 million in viewers and 2.4 million in A25-54, outpacing broadcast networks ABC, NBC, CBS in viewers and all cable networks across the board. It was FNC’s highest rated Inauguration Day special programming in network history. During inauguration coverage, FNC held 80% of the cable news audience share in viewers and 77% in the A25-54 demo as MSNBC and CNN marked more lows. MSNBC delivered its lowest-rated inauguration day coverage ever (11:30AM-1PM/ET) and CNN fell to its second lowest-rated inauguration in network history.
At 5 PM/ET, FNC’s The Five secured 4.8 million viewers and 531,000 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 3.5 million viewers and 452,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 8 PM/ET Jesse Watters Primetime commanded over 4.1 million viewers and 527,000 in the 25-54 demo. Winning the 9 PM/ET hour across the board, FNC’s Hannity remained dominant with 3.8 million viewers and 506,000 in the 25-54 demo.
FNC’s hit late-night program Gutfeld! (10 PM/ET) continued its run as the most-watched late-night program across broadcast and cable sweeping both total viewers and the 25-54 demo. Notching 3.3 million viewers, 446,000 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 3.5 million viewers and 428,000 in 25-54 demo. Closing the night at 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night also surpassed the competition, delivering 1.9 million viewers and 312,000 in the 25-54 demo.
From 5-6 AM/ET, FOX & Friends FIRST netted 722,000 viewers while FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) finished the month with 1.5 million viewers and 192,000 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 47 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 2.4 million viewers and 288,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, notched 2.6 million viewers and 310,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered earned 2.5 million viewers and 277,000 in the demo. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith also garnered 2.4 million viewers and 272,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 3 PM/ET, anchor Martha MacCallum’s The Story averaged 2.3 million viewers and 262,000 in the 25-54 demo. In the 4 PM/ET hour Your World/The Will Cain Show (which debuted on 1/21) averaged 2.3 million viewers and 263,000 in the 25-54 category for the month.
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. In fact, FNC had its highest weekend cable news share in network history with 68% of viewership. On Saturdays, FOX News Live was most watched show, drawing 1.8 million viewers and 204,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Big Weekend Show (weekends, 6-8 PM/ET) followed with 1.7 million viewers and 196,000 in the 25-54 demo. Life, Liberty & Levin (weekends, 8 PM/ET) was the top show in primetime with 1.6 million viewers. FOX Report with Jon Scott (weekends, 3 -5 PM/ET) nabbed 1.6 million viewers (167,000 A25-54) and FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla (Saturday, 10 PM/ET) attracted 1.3 million viewers (177,000 A25-54.) One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Saturday, 9 PM/ET) drew 1.5 million viewers and 169,000 in the 25-54 demo.
On Sundays, FNC’s Sunday Morning Futures earned the top-rated show of the day, garnering 2.1 million viewers and 223,000 with 25-54 demo. At 11 AM/ET, MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz, delivered 1.6 million viewers and 190,000 in the 25-54 demo while Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy garnered 1.6 million viewers and 159,000 A25-54. The Big Weekend Show followed with 1.6 million viewers and 185,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX & Friends Sunday took 1.4 million viewers and 179,000 in 25-54 demo.
JANUARY 2025 NIELSEN NUMBERS (Monday-Sunday, Live + Same Day):
TOTAL DAY
FNC: 1,916,000 total viewers and 253,000 A25-54 (up 53% with P2, up 70% with A25-54 vs. Jan. 2024)
CNN: 421,000 total viewers and 80,000 A25-54 (down 9% with P2+, down 7% with A25-54 vs. Jan. 2024)
MSNBC: 506,000 total viewers and 45,000 A25-54 (down 33% with P2+, down 41% with A25-54 vs. Jan. 2024)
PRIMETIME (8-11P)
FNC: 2,781,000 total viewers and 353,000 A25-54 (up 40% with P2+, up 61% with A25-54 vs. Jan. 2024)
CNN: 522,000 total viewers and 118,000 A25-54 (down 14% with P2+, down 5% with A25-54 vs. Jan. 2024)
MSNBC: 734,000 total viewers and 63,000 A25-54 (down 33% with P2+, down 41% with A25-54 vs. Jan. 2024)
JANUARY RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:
Total Viewers: The Five (4,765,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (4,122,000), Hannity (3,769,000), Special Report (3,489,000), The Ingraham Angle (3,462,000)
Adults 25-54: The Five (531,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (527,000), Hannity (506,000), The Ingraham Angle (452,000), Gutfeld! (446,000)
Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Month of January 2025 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54, P18-49. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats and include the corresponding program name.
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 23 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.
