During Ongoing Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War, FNC Holds Over Half the Audience Share in Primetime Viewers, Capturing 51% of Cable News Viewership
FNC Beats CNN and MSNBC Combined in Primetime Viewers; Secures Top Twelve Programs in 25-54 Demo
“The Five” Remains Supreme as Most-Watched Program in Cable News; “Gutfeld!” is Dominant in A25-54
NEW YORK – November 29, 2023 – FOX News Channel (FNC) finished November 2023 with 90 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the month, while CNN netted zero, according to Nielsen Media Research. The network remained cable television’s most-watched across total day viewership and second in primetime behind only ESPN. FNC also marked 34 consecutive months defeating the cable news competition in primetime total viewers by double and triple-digits across the board. In total day, FNC delivered 1.2 million viewers and 143,000 in the 25-54 demo and was the only cable news network to deliver over 1 million viewers in total day. In primetime, FNC netted 1.7 million viewers and 199,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating CNN and MSNBC combined in total viewership. Throughout November, FNC secured the top six programs in cable news with viewers and the top twelve cable news shows in the 25-54 demo. Notably, FNC continues to have the most engaged audience in cable news per Nielsen and was again the number one cable network with Democrats, Republicans and Independents with the 25-54 demo according to Nielsen MRI-Simmons Fusion data.
Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War on October 7, FNC has remained dominant for its continuous breaking news coverage. Notably, FNC has attracted 1.9 million viewers in primetime and 222,000 in the 25-54 demo, topping CNN’s 633,000 viewers and 151,000 in the demo, with a 196% and 47% advantage, respectively. In comparison MSNBC averages 1.1 million viewers and 113,000 in the 25-54 demo, FNC also maintains double-digit advantages in both categories (64% with P2+ and 96% with A25-54).
In total day, from October 7th to date, FNC has garnered 1.3 million viewers and 162,000 in the 25-54 demo, securing double and triple-digit advantages over both CNN (547,000 P2+ and 113,000 A25-54) and MSNBC (798,000 P2+ and 87,000 A25-54). In total viewers, FNC maintained a 134% advantage over CNN and a 61% advantage over MSNBC, while obtaining a 43% lead in the 25-54 demo over CNN and a 86% advantage over MSNBC. In terms of audience share, FNC holds more than half the cable news audience in total viewership with 51% (CNN’s 17% and MSNBC’s 31%) and 46% in the 25-54 demo (CNN’s 31% and MSNBC’s 23%). In total day viewership, FNC has 49% of the audience share and 45% in the 25-54 demo, again easily leading the cable news competition with CNN at 21% P2+ and 31% A25-54, and MSNBC at 30% P2+ and 24% A25-54.
FNC’s The Five, which has been number one show in cable news for over eight consecutive quarters, continued its streak with total viewers, securing 2.9 million viewers and 270,000 with A25-54. 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 212,000 in the 25-54 demo.
Kicking off FNC’s primetime lineup at 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle garnered 2,146,000 viewers and 221,000 in the 25-54 demo. Following at 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 2.6 million viewers and 273,000 with A25-54, making it the highest-rated program in primetime viewers and second overall behind The Five.
FNC’s Hannity (9PM/ET) scored 2.3 million viewers, 260,000 in the 25-54 demo, achieving the second most-watched program in the younger 18-49 demo in primetime and outpacing the competition on MSNBC and CNN among both categories. Gutfeld! at 10 PM/ET, which is the most “DVR’d” show in cable news among younger 18-49 demo viewers, delivered nearly 2 million viewers and 277,000 in A25-54, scoring the highest-rated program of the month in the younger 25-54 demo. Since late night shows have returned to air after the writers’ strike, Gutfeld! has notably remained the most watched program in broadcast and cable among the competition. Wrapping up the night, FOX News @ Night, anchored by Trace Gallagher in its 11 PM/ET timeslot, delivered 1.1 million viewers and 180,000 with A25-54.
From 5-6 AM/ET, FOX & Friends First garnered 559,000 viewers while FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) finished November with over 1,135,000 viewers and 142,000 in the demo, notching 33 consecutive months atop the 25-54 demo. Comparatively, CNN This Morning averaged just 366,000 viewers and 72,000 with A25-54 in November. 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 1,628,000 viewers and 194,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, also notched 1.6 million viewers and 203,000 in the 25-54 demo and bested CNN and MSNBC across the board. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered also earned 1.6 million viewers and notched 193,000 in the 25-54 demo. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith garnered 1,444,000 viewers and 165,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 3 PM/ET, anchor and executive editor Martha MacCallum’s The Story averaged 1,458,000 viewers and 167,000 in the 25-54 demo, while Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4 PM/ET nabbed 1,464,000 viewers and 170,000 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. Life, Liberty & Levin (Saturday, 8 PM/ET) was the most-watched of the day with 1.2 million viewers and 103,000 with A25-54. Following, Cavuto Live (Saturday, 10 AM – 12 PM/ET) was the second most-watched cable news program on Saturday in total viewers, also netting nearly 1.2 million viewers and 146,000 in the 25-54 demo. One Nation, helmed by Brian Kilmeade, garnered 949,000 viewers and 93,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s signature FOX & Friends Weekend led the morning shows, scoring 1.1 million viewers and 128,000 in the 25-54 demo for its Saturday airings. Additionally, FOX Report with Jon Scott (weekends, 6 PM/ET) averaged 1 million viewers and 80,000 with A25-54, while The Big Weekend Show drew 1.1 million viewers and 97,000 A25-54. FOX News Live garnered over 835,000 viewers and 93,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo.
On Sundays, FNC’s Sunday Morning Futures at 10AM/ET hosted by Maria Bartiromo ranked first across with viewers averaging 1.4 million viewers and 123,000 with A25-54. MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz at 11 AM/ET, delivered 1.1 million viewers and 104,000 in the 25-54 demo. Meanwhile, FNC’s Life, Liberty and Levin earned the second top-rated spot in total viewers for Sunday, with nearly 1.4 million viewers and 116,000 A25-54. FNC’s Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy delivered an audience of 1.1 million viewers and 97,000 A25-54. Additionally, The Big Weekend Show scored over 1 million total viewers and 91,000 in the 25-54 demo, while FOX & Friends Weekend notched 1.1 million viewers and ranked first in the younger demo with 133,000 viewers in 25-54.
NOVEMBER 2023 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:
Total Viewers: The Five (2,874,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (2,566,000), Hannity (2,254,000), Special Report (2,176,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,146,000)
Adults 25-54: Gutfeld! (277,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (273,000), The Five (270,000), Hannity (260,000), The Ingraham Angle (221,000)
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 seven years and the most-watched television news channel for more than 21 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 2021 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report stated FOX News leads the news industry in both brand loyalty, engagement, and expectations while a 2022 Brand Keys poll showed FNC dominating morning and evening news in customer loyalty engagement. 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.
