FNC is Only Network to Grow its Audience Versus 2020 and 2016 as MSNBC and CNN Shed Double-Digits
Revamped Primetime Lineup Marks One-Year and Notches Double-Digit Increases Among Every Hour Versus 2023; “Jesse Watters Primetime” is Cable News’ Most-Watched Program
Network’s RNC Programming Makes History with Most-Watched Convention Coverage in Cable News History
FNC Occupied 99 of the Top 100 Cable News Telecasts; Dominated Every Breaking News Event Throughout July
NEW YORK – July 30, 2024 – FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the month of July as the most watched network in all of television in weekday primetime, outpacing not only all of cable but the competition on broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC. Posting its highest July on record and among top 10 highest-rated months of all time, FNC is the only channel to grow its audience versus 2020 and 2016, as the competition shed massive viewership. According to Nielsen Media Research, FNC has accelerated the most among U.S. television, gaining the largest percentage of viewers and solidifying its spot as the go-to destination for all breaking news, occupying the largest share of the audience since November 2014 (60% in total day viewers). Attracting the highest viewership in television, FOX News Media was the leader in news during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention (RNC), President Biden’s decision to end his re-election campaign and his first Oval Office address to the nation following the news. FNC delivered 99 of the top 100 telecasts in cable news, while MSNBC netted just one and CNN had zero. July was the highest-rated month since the November 2020 election as more Independents continued to tune in to FNC over any other network, according to data from Nielsen MRI Fusion. Additionally, FNC ranked as the top network in all of cable among upscale, Asian and Hispanic viewers during total day viewership and 25-54 demo.
In primetime, FNC delivered 3.5 million viewers and 498,000 in the 25-54 demographic, growing its audience double-digits year-over-year (+120%) in total viewership and even attracting 236% more viewers in the 25-54 demo. In total day, FNC drew 1.9 million viewers and 268,000 in the 25-54 demo, again more than doubling its demo audience. FNC also posted the most growth month over month, accelerating 41% in total viewership and 69% in 25-54 demo during total day hours and 52% in primetime viewers with a 95% bump in the 25-54 demo. In contrast, MSNBC posted its lowest weekday primetime viewership average of 2024.
FNC is the only network to show growth across the board versus the prior political seasons, a notable feat due to heightened viewership during the pandemic and the impact of cord cutting on the industry. Notably, FNC is up double-digits in both total day (+17%) viewers and 7-11 PM/ET primetime (+15%), while CNN lost 47% of total day viewers and 43% in primetime versus 2020. MSNBC followed suit dropping 40% of total day and primetime viewers. This trend also is reflected versus 2016, with FNC growing 21% in total day viewers and 25% in primetime as CNN shed 45% and 47%, respectively while MSNBC was also down across the board in primetime.
On Saturday, July 13th, FNC presented live breaking news coverage of the attempted assassination of former President Trump at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Posting its highest-rated weekend ever, FNC delivered 6.9 million viewers and 1.4 million in the 25-54 demo in primetime on that Saturday, leading all of television. When the assassination attempt occurred during the 6 PM/ET hour, FNC averaged 4.1 million viewers and 748,000 in the 25-54 demo and its coverage peaked during the 8 PM/ET hour anchored by Shannon Bream and Bill Hemmer with 7.7 million viewers and 1.6 million in the 25-54 demo. Throughout the breaking news coverage from 6-9 PM/ET, the network saw 6.4 million views and 1.3 million in the 25-54 demo.
Additionally, FNC was the dominant network each night of the RNC, making history as it delivered the highest-rated primetime convention coverage of all time for the closing night of the convention (10.4 million total viewers and 2 million in 25-54 demo) from 10 – 11 PM/ET. Overall, FNC concluded the week with 6.7 million viewers and 1.1 million in the 25-54 demo, during Monday through Thursday primetime (8-11 PM/ET). In contrast, the competition failed to draw a significant audience, experiencing a massive drop off from 2016, as FNC occupied 75% of the entire cable news primetime audience. In comparison, CNN drew 1.2 million P2+ and 349,000 25-54 demo viewers in primetime and 555,000 and 142,000 A25-54 throughout total day, dropping 67% in both categories and down 59% and 66% in total day. On MSNBC, the network also dwindled in viewership, drawing only 1.1 million and 143,000 in primetime and 702,000 total viewers and 83,000 in 25-54 demo throughout total day during the four-night period. MSNBC lost 40% and 72% of its primetime audience and 26% and 66% in total day.
On Sunday, July 21st during breaking news coverage of President Joe Biden’s decision to end his reelection campaign, FNC again led all of television across the board. FNC was first to report the news with anchor Mike Emanuel delivering 1.7 million viewers and 243,000 in 25-54 demo (1:45 – 2PM/ET), while CNN drew 512,000 viewers and 103,000 in 25-54 and MSNBC saw 652,000 viewers and 71,000 in 25-54 demo. From 2- 4PM/ET, FNC notched 3.5 million viewers and 678,000 in the 25-54 demo. In contrast, MSNBC and CNN, which was in tape while news broke, both drew 2 million viewers, a double-digit advantage for FNC. Bumping regularly scheduled programming, FNC’s primetime lineup from 8 – 11 PM/ET posted 3.3 million viewers and 526,000 in the 25-54 demo on Sunday night. FOX News Media (FNC & FOX Business) also led the competition during President Biden’s address to the nation on July 24th, drawing 7,131,000 total viewers and 1,465,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating the cable news competition combined and outpacing both ABC and CBS on broadcast.
At 5 PM/ET, FNC’s The Five averaged above 3.9 million viewers and 396,000 in 25-54 demo, outpacing every program on CNN and MSNBC across the board. Following the hour, Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET) averaged 2.9 million viewers and 337,000 in 25-54 demo, marking its top month since November 2020.
On July 17th, FNC’s revamped primetime lineup marked its one-year anniversary. Kicking off with The Ingraham Angle at 7 PM/ET and closing with late-night program Gutfeld! at 10PM/ET, each show grew its timeslot across the board. Overall, from 7 – 11PM/ET, FNC attracted 37% more viewers and 65% in the 25-54 demo versus the interim period with each host beating CNN and MSNBC combined in its time slot with total viewers. For the first time since 2016, FNC beat Discovery among all younger primetime demos during Shark Week.
At 8 PM/ET Jesse Watters Primetime was the number one show in all of cable news, marking its highest-rated month since launch. For the month, Watters delivered a whopping 4.4 million viewers and 590,000 in the 25-54 demo, crushing the hour by double- and triple-digit advantages. Notably, year-over-year, Watters grew the timeslot by 132% with total viewers and 246% with 25-54 viewers, establishing the program as the fastest growing program in all of cable news.
FNC’s hit late-night program Gutfeld! continued as the genre’s most-watched in broadcast and cable television in viewers, 25-54 and the younger A18-49 demographic with nearly three million viewers, 458,000 in 25-54 demo and 296,000 in A18-49. During the month of July, Gutfeld! notched its largest audience in viewers and 25-54 demo in program history as it 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. The program also finished the month on track to have its most-watched year in program history.
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 423,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s Hannity at 9 PM/ET remained dominant, nabbing 4.3 million viewers and 657,000 in the 25-54 demo, making it the top show of the month in the 25-54 demo. Closing the night at 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night surpassed the competition, delivering 1.7 million viewers and 282,000 in 25-54 demo. Notably all three shows posted their best months since November 2020.
From 5-6 AM/ET, FOX & Friends FIRST netted 634,000 viewers while FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) finished the month with 1.3 million viewers and 188,000 in the demo, outpacing the competition across the board. The program has remained the number one cable news program in the mornings with both categories for more than three straight years and 41 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 million viewers and 257,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, notched 2.1 million viewers and 265,000 in the 25-54 demo, marking the show’s second best month since launch with viewers. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered earned 2.2 million viewers and 271,000 in the demo. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith garnered 2.2 million viewers and 283,000 in the 25-54 demo, marking the show’s best month ever. Each of these programs outperformed NBC’s Today with Hoda and Jenna, NBC News Daily, GMA3, Kelly Clarkson Show and The Talk in total viewers. At 3 PM/ET, anchor Martha MacCallum’s The Story averaged 2.4 million viewers and 309,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating ABC’s The View in viewership. Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4 PM/ET nabbed 2.1 million viewers and 259,000 in the 25-54 category for the month, marking its best month November 2020.
FNC also continued to excel against the competition throughout the weekend for the month, outpacing CNN and MSNBC across both total day and primetime with viewers and winning every hour with total viewers and 25-54 demo. FNC defeated CNN and MSNBC combined in total viewers and the 25-54 demo both days. On Saturdays, The Big Weekend Show was number one across the board, drawing 3,053,000 viewers and 546,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX News Live followed on Saturday earning 1.8 million viewers and 323,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX Report with Jon Scott also nabbed 1.8 million viewers (217,000 A25-54) and FOX News Saturday Night with Jimmy Failla attracted 1.2 million viewers (161,000 A25-54.) FNC’s Life, Liberty and Levin delivered 1.7 million viewers and 180,000 among 25-54 demo, while One Nation with Brian Kilmeade drew 1.6 million viewers and 188,000 in the 25-54 demo. Neil Cavuto’s Cavuto Live remained dominant in its hour, securing 1.4 million viewers and 181,000 25-54 demo viewers.
On Sundays, FNC’s Life, Liberty and Levin earned the top-rated show in viewers and the younger demo, garnering 1.9 million viewers and 221,000 with 25-54 demo while Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo at 10 AM/ET saw 1.7 million viewers and 193,000 in the demo. FOX & Friends Sunday also outpaced every CNN and MSNBC program in viewers, with 1.6 million viewers and 217,000 in 25-54 demo. At 11 AM/ET, MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz, delivered 1.3 million viewers and 149,000 in the 25-54 demo while Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy garnered 1.6 million viewers and 142,000 A25-54.
On the digital front, FOX News Digital is pacing towards its best month of media initiates and total minutes spent since November 2020 according to Adobe Analytics. Additionally, the week of July 14th, following the assassination attempt on former President Trump and the Republican National Convention, FOX News Digital saw its top week in 2024 with unique devices. FOX Nation is also experiencing increased engagement, with time spent watching up 52% versus June 2023 and up 49% versus same time last year. Currently, July 2024 is charting as the highest performing month for the platform in minutes watched since April 2023.
JULY 2024 NIELSEN NUMBERS VS. JULY 2023 (Monday-Sunday, Live + Same Day):
TOTAL DAY
FNC: 1,899,000 total viewers (268,000 in 25-54) up 78% P2+ and up 120% A25-54
CNN: 523,000 total viewers (111,000 in 25-54) up 23% P2+ and up 42% A25-54
MSNBC: 721,000 total viewers (82,000 in 25-54) flat P2+ and up 9% A25-54
PRIMETIME (8-11P)
FNC: 3,452,000 total viewers (498,000 in 25-54) up 120% P2+ and up 236% A25-54
CNN: 856,000 total viewers (206,000 in 25-54) up 60% P2+ and up 98% A25-54
MSNBC: 1,184,000 total viewers (136,000 in 25-54) up 5% P2+ and up 26% A25-54
JULY RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:
Total Viewers: Jesse Watters Primetime (4,413,000), Hannity (4,300,000), The Five (3,854,000), The Ingraham Angle (3,314,000), Special Report (2,913,000),
Adults 25-54: Hannity (657,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (590,000), Gutfeld! (458,000), The Ingraham Angle (423,000), The Five (396,000)
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. Additionally, 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.
