FNC Trounces the Cable News Landscape as the Most-Watched Network for 66 Consecutive Quarters
Hannity Tops Cable News Across the Board Delivering Program High Since Returning to 9PM
The Ingraham Angle Has Highest Rated Month Ever
FOX & Friends Marks 200 Consecutive Months as the Most-Watched Cable News Morning Show
Continuing its reign as the most-watched cable news network, FOX News Channel (FNC) also leads all of basic cable for eight consecutive quarters in total day with total viewers (P2+) according to Nielsen Media Research. Dominating across the board, the network also marked 66 consecutive quarters as the highest-rated cable news channel in both primetime and total day in total viewers.
During 2Q’18, FNC averaged 1,409,000 million in total viewers and 286,000 with A25-54 in total day. In primetime, FNC delivered 2,447,000 in total viewers and 480,000 in the 25-54 demographic. FNC also bested MSNBC and CNN in both primetime and total day with P2+ and A25-54.
Additionally, the network claimed 10 of the top 15 cable news programs in total viewers and eight of the top 15 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s evening and primetime programs were among the top four shows in total viewers including, Hannity as the most-watched program in all of cable news with 3,368,000 in total viewers and 685,000 in the 25-54 demo. Hannity also delivered a program high in both categories since returning to the 9PM/ET timeslot (9/25/2017). Tucker Carlson Tonight boasted 2,697,000 in total viewers and 541,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle delivered 2,654,000 in total viewers and 544,000 in the 25-54 demo, the show’s highest-rated month since launch (10/30/17).
Kicking off the day at 4AM/ET, FOX & Friends First with Heather Childers was the number one show in its timeslot with 519,000 in P2+, followed by FOX & Friends First at 5AM, which averaged 582,000 in viewers. FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends marked 200 consecutive months as the most-watched morning show in cable news with 1,548,000 in total viewers and 329,000 in the demo. America’s Newsroom with co-anchors Bill Hemmer and Sandra Smith (9AM-12PM/ET) garnered 1,631,000 with P2+ and 294,000 with A25-54. FNC’s afternoon ensemble program, Outnumbered (12PM/ET), posted 1,492,000 in total viewers and 268,000 in the demo. At 1PM/ET, Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner averaged 1,386,000 in total viewers and 271,000 in the 25-54 demographic. The Daily Briefing at 2PM/ET delivered 1,381,000 in total viewers and 263,000 with A25-54. At 3PM/ET, Shepard Smith Reporting averaged 1,339,000 in total viewers and 259,000 in the demo. At 4PM/ET, Your World with Neil Cavuto posted 1,416,000 with P2+ and 270,000 viewers with A25-54.
Among FNC’s evening and primetime programming, The Five (5PM/ET) averaged 2,233,000 in total viewers and 403,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 6PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier garnered 2,194,000 in total viewers and 396,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Story with Martha MacCallum at 7PM/ET delivered 1,971,000 with P2+ and 387,000 in the younger 25-54 demo. At 11PM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream averaged 1,572,000 in total viewers and 364,000 in the 25-54 demo, marking a program high in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo since launch (10/30/17). Additionally, Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo delivered 1.5 million in total viewers and 322K in the demo, outpacing the competition in both categories.
RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:
Total Viewers: Hannity (3,368,000), The Rachel Maddow Show (2,752,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (2,697,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,654,000), The Five (2,233,000)
Adults 25-54: Hannity (685,000), The Rachel Maddow Show (559,000), The Ingraham Angle (544,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (541,000), Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (419,000)
2Q’18 VS. 2Q’17 NIELSEN NUMBERS (seven day week, L+SD):
TOTAL DAY
FNC: 1,409,000 total viewers – down 4% (286,000 in 25-54 – down 9%)
CNN: 658,000 total viewers – down 16% (202,000 in 25-54 – down 23%)
MSNBC: 930,000 total viewers – up 5% (196,000 in 25-54 – down 5%)
PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET
FNC: 2,447,000 total viewers – up 4% (480,000 in 25-54 – up 2%)
CNN: 929,000 total viewers – down 12% (302,000 in 25-54 – down 18%)
MSNBC: 1,736,000 total viewers – up 6% (346,000 in 25-54 – down 11%)
FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most watched television news channel for more than 16 years. According to a Suffolk University/USA Today survey, Fox News is the most trusted source for television news or commentary in the country and a 2017 Gallup/Knight Foundation survey found that among Americans who could name an objective news source, Fox News is the top-cited outlet. Owned by 21st Century Fox, FNC is available in 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top ten programs in the genre.
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FOX News Media Contacts:
Carly Shanahan; 212.301.3851
Jaclyn Giuliano; 212.301.3436
