FNC Beats CNN and MSNBC Combined in Total Day and Primetime Viewers Throughout January, Including During Coverage of Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary
The Five’ Reigns Supreme as Highest-Rated Program in Cable News Among Total Viewers
‘Jesse Watters Primetime’ Notches Most-Watched Month Since Launch at 8 PM/ET, Reigns as Top Program in 25-54 and 18-49 Demos
‘Gutfeld!’ Bests ‘Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!,’ ‘The Tonight Show,’ ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ as Number One in Late Night Television
NEW YORK – January 30, 2024 – FOX News Channel (FNC) has accomplished another landmark achievement, marking its 22nd consecutive year as the number one cable news network in total day and primetime, according to Nielsen Media Research. Since January 2002, FNC has remained the most-watched cable news network across both total day and primetime with total viewers and the 25-54 demographic. FNC continued its ratings dominance for the month of January and grew its primetime audience in total viewers versus January 2023. Additionally, FNC was the only cable news network to show year-over-year growth in the younger 18-34 demo, growing 18% in total day and 25% in primetime, while MSNBC and CNN are experiencing double-digit declines. FNC continued to expand its audience share, occupying more than half the audience in total day and primetime viewers while also attracting the largest and most politically diverse audience, with more Democrat and Independent viewers in both total day and primetime than CNN and MSNBC.
In commenting on the milestone, FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said, “Marking another historic feat is a true reflection of the unwavering dedication and outstanding talent that we have throughout the entire organization of FOX News Channel.”
Notably, FNC closed out the first month of 2024 with 98 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the month, while the competition on CNN netted only one and MSNBC had zero. FNC remained cable television’s most-watched across total day viewership and second in primetime behind only ESPN. The network also marked 35 consecutive months defeating the cable news competition in primetime total viewers by double and triple-digits across the board. In total day, FNC nabbed 1.3 million viewers and 149,000 in the 25-54 demo and was the only cable news network to deliver over 1 million viewers in total day. FNC nearly tripled CNN (463,000) and beat CNN and MSNBC (761,000) combined in viewership. In primetime from 7-11 PM/ET, FNC netted 1.9 million viewers and 207,000 in the 25-54 demo, again beating CNN (612,000) and MSNBC (1.1 million) combined in total viewership. Throughout January, FNC secured the top nine programs in cable news with viewers and the top 12 cable news shows in the 25-54 demo. Every FNC weekday program won across the board in both total viewers and 25-54 demo and the network posted the largest increases among cable news versus December 2023.
Kicking off the 2024 election year, FNC dominated the competition during special coverage of both the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary. During the Iowa Caucus, FNC’s primetime coverage from 8-11PM/ET delivered 2.9 million viewers and 419,000 in the 25-54 demo, more than quadrupling CNN (707,000 P2+) and more than doubling MSNBC (1.2 million P2+). During primetime coverage (8-11 PM/ET) of the New Hampshire Primary, FNC delivered 3.3 million viewers and 453,000 in the 25-54 younger demo, more than tripling CNN’s (994,000 P2+) and nearly doubling MSNBC (1.75 million P2+.) Additionally, FNC’s town hall with former President Trump co-moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum in Des Moines, Iowa on January 10th secured 4.4 million viewers and 576,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading CNN’s debate with Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis that saw just 2.7 million viewers and 515,000 in the 25-54 demo during the 9 PM/ET hour the same night.
FNC’s The Five, which has been the number one show in cable news for over nine consecutive quarters, continued its streak with total viewers, securing 3 million viewers and 257,000 with 25-54 demo and notably ranking as the most “DVR’D” program in all of cable news. Evening newscast Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET), named the most reliable program in cable news according to Ad Fontes, averaged 2.2 million viewers and 207,000 in the 25-54 demo.
Leading FNC’s primetime lineup at 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle garnered 2.2 million viewers and 223,000 in the 25-54 demo. Following at 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 2.8 million viewers, 299,000 with 25-54 demo and 219,000 in 18-49, making it the highest-rated program in both younger demos and second among total viewers, following The Five. FNC’s Hannity (9PM/ET) scored 2.5 million viewers and 276,000 in the 25-54 demo, achieving the second most-watched program in the younger 18-49 demo (196,000) in primetime and outpacing the competition on MSNBC and CNN in both categories. Gutfeld! at 10 PM/ET, which is the most “DVR’d” show in cable news among younger 25-54 demo viewers delivered 2.1 million viewers and 283,000 in 25-54 demo. Gutfeld! has notably remained the most watched program in broadcast and cable among the competition, beating The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers and CBS’ After Midnight with total viewership. Wrapping up the night, FOX News @ Night, anchored by Trace Gallagher in its 11 PM/ET timeslot, delivered 1.1 million viewers and 179,000 with A25-54.
From 5-6 AM/ET, FOX & Friends First garnered 518,000 viewers while FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) finished January with over 1.1 million viewers and 141,000 in the demo, notching 35 consecutive months atop the 25-54 demo. FNC’s daytime lineup, kicking off with two-hour morning news program, America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET), delivered 1.6 million viewers and 183,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, also notched 1.6 million viewers and 193,000 in the 25-54 demo and bested CNN and MSNBC across the board. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered earned 1.7 million viewers and saw 204,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s Outnumbered continues to outpace the broadcast competition, beating both NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show and CBS’ The Drew Barrymore Show with total viewers. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith garnered 1.5 million viewers and 164,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 3 PM/ET, anchor and executive editor Martha MacCallum’s The Story averaged 1.4 million viewers and 152,000 in the 25-54 demo, while Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4 PM/ET nabbed 1.4 million viewers and 153,000 in the 25-54 category for the month.
FNC continued to excel against the competition on weekends throughout the month, outpacing CNN and MSNBC yet again across total day and primetime with viewers and winning every hour in total viewers. Cavuto Live (Saturday, 10 AM-12PM/ET) was the most-watched of the day in both categories with 1.3 million viewers and 155,000 with 25-54 demo. Following, FOX & Friends Weekend (6 AM – 10 AM/ET) was the second most-watched cable news program of the day in both categories, netting nearly 1.2 million viewers and 152,000 in the 25-54 demo. Life, Liberty & Levin, helmed by Mark Levin, garnered 1 million viewers and 71,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s One Nation with Brian Kilmeade scored 817,000 viewers and 50,000 in the 25-54 demo. Additionally, FOX Report with Jon Scott (weekends, 6 PM/ET) averaged nearly 900,000 viewers and 74,000 with A25-54, while The Big Weekend Show drew 983,000 viewers and 82,000 A25-54. FOX News Live garnered over 995,000 viewers and 113,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo.
Earlier this month, Jimmy Failla was named host of FOX News Saturday Night (10-11 PM/ET) which has averaged nearly 700,000 viewers since its premiere beating CNN and MSNBC combined in the timeslot in total viewership for the month.
On Sundays, FNC’s Sunday Morning Futures at 10AM/ET hosted by Maria Bartiromo ranked first across with viewers averaging 1.6 million viewers and 166,000 with the 25-54 demo. MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz at 11 AM/ET, delivered 1.3 million viewers and 124,000 in the 25-54 demo. Meanwhile, FNC’s Life, Liberty and Levin rounded out the top three spots in total viewers for Sunday, with nearly 1.2 million viewers and 81,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy attracted an audience of 972,000 viewers and 70,000 in 25-54 demo. Additionally, The Big Weekend Show scored 929,000 total viewers and 88,000 in the 25-54 demo, while FOX & Friends Weekend notched over 1 million viewers and ranked second in the younger demo with 145,000 viewers in 25-54. In contrast, MSNBC’s Inside with Jen Psaki delivered 707,000 total viewers and just 67,000 in the 25-54 demo, ranking 15th in total viewers and 19th in the 25-54 demo.
JANUARY 2024 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:
Total Viewers: The Five (2,950,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (2,826,000), Hannity (2,504,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,202,000), Special Report (2,198,000),
Adults 25-54: Jesse Watters Primetime (299,000), Gutfeld! (283,000), Hannity (276,000), The Five (257,000), The Ingraham Angle (223,000)
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 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 more than 70 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top 10 programs in the genre.
