FNC’s “Democracy 2024: Iowa Caucuses” Averages Nearly 3 Million Viewers and 402,000 in A25-54 in Primetime; FNC Occupies 61% of Audience in Total Viewers and 54% in 25-54 Demo
NEW YORK – January 16, 2024 – FOX News Channel’s (FNC) special coverage of the 2024 Iowa caucuses crushed the competition on cable news, beating the average of CNN and MSNBC combined in primetime viewers, according to early data from Nielsen Media Research. FNC’s primetime coverage from 8-11PM/ET delivered 2.8 million viewers and 402,000 in the 25-54 younger demo. In primetime, FNC more than quadrupled CNN’s (688,000 P2+) and more than doubled the network in the 25-54 demo (194,000 A25-54.) Additionally, FNC more than doubled MSNBC in both categories (1.1 million P2+ and 143,000 A25-54.)
In the 8 PM/ET hour, when each network called former President Donald Trump’s win, FNC delivered 2.9 million viewers and 428,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating CNN (848,000 P2+ and 224,000 A25-54) and MSNBC (1.2 million P2+ and 143,000 A25-54) combined. FNC was the only network to post growth versus 2012, posting a nearly 10% increase, while CNN was down double-digits in both categories and lost 61% in the 25-54 demo. In comparison to 2016, FNC was down the least among all categories, while CNN shed 82% of its total audience and 86% in the 25-54 demo versus 2016 and MSNBC lost 42% in viewers and 76% in the 25-54 demo. Compared to the 2020, CNN (-61% P2+ and 72% A25-54 demo) and MSNBC (-55% P2+ and -77% A25-54), lost over half their audience in each category.
Anchored by chief political anchor Special Report’s Bret Baier and anchor and executive editor of The Story Martha MacCallum, FNC’s Democracy 2024: Iowa Caucuses from 10PM-12AM/ET averaged 2.7 million viewers 423,000 in the 25-54 demographic, again beating the competition more than combined. Additionally, FNC was also the most-watched cable news network in the younger 18-49 demo with 324,000 viewers from 8-11 PM/ET.
FNC’s coverage of the 2024 Iowa caucuses also dominated in total day, averaging 1.5 million viewers and 189,000 in the 25-54 demo from 3-3AM/ET. Additionally, FNC occupied more than half the total audience share in total day in all of caucus coverage (56% P2+ and 53% 25-54 demo.)
FOX News Go also experienced a strong day of engagement across key performance indicators, notching triple digit increases in key categories versus calendar year 2023 according to Adobe Analytics. Across FOX News Digital properties, the Iowa Caucus drove 179,000 unique viewing devices and 246,000 media initiates between 8 PM – 12 AM/ET. Unique viewing devices were up 161% and media initiates were up 106% during this timeframe compared to 2023. According to Emplifi, FOX News was the top news brand with social media interactions, garnering 727,000 across Facebook, X and Instagram
7-11 PM/ET
FNC: 2,598,573,000 P2+, 362,735 A25-54.
CNN: 673,765 P2+, 187,071 A25-54.
MSNBC: 1,106,900 P2+, 133,379 A25-54
8-11 PM/ET
FNC: 2,834,947 P2+, 402,391 A25-54.
CNN: 688,006 P2+, 193,817 A25-54.
MSNBC: 1,147,549 P2+, 142,521 A25-54
8-9 PM/ET
FNC: 2,904,389 P2+, 427,960 A25-54
CNN: 848,266 P2+, 223,707 A25-54.
MSNBC: 1,193,038 P2+, 143,242 A25-54
10 PM – 12 AM/ET
FNC: 2,683,814 P2+, 422,819 A25-54
CNN: 540,857 P2+, 166,226 A25-54.
MSNBC: 930,306 P2+, 108,849 A25-54
3-3 AM/ET
FNC: 1,471,668 P2+; 188,624 A25-54
CNN: 446,435 P2+; 98,548 A25-54
MSNBC: 712,370 P2+; 68,094 A25-54
FOX News Media operates the FOX News Channel (FNC), FOX Business Network (FBN), FOX News Digital, FOX News Audio, FOX News Books, the direct-to-consumer streaming services FOX Nation and FOX News International and the free ad-supported television service FOX Weather. Currently the number one network in all of cable, FNC has also been the most watched television news channel for nearly 22 consecutive years, while FBN is the top business channel on cable. Owned by Fox Corporation, FOX News Media reaches nearly 200 million people each month.
