The Five Finishes Month as Most-Watched Cable Program at 5 PM/ET in Viewers, Gutfeld! Dominates Cable News in A25-54 and 18-49 Demos
Gutfeld! Continues Reign as Highest-Rated Late-Night Program in Broadcast and Cable, Topping ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,’ The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,’ ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ and ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’
FNC Holds Largest Share of Cable News Audience in Primetime, Outpaces CNN and MSNBC Combined in Primetime Viewers
NEW YORK – April 30, 2024 – FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the month of April as the highest-rated cable news network, marking 39 months as the number one channel in primetime and 38 months as the most-watched in total day, according to Nielsen Media Research. FNC also had the largest audience in all of cable television in total day in viewers and third largest in A25-54 and finished as the second most-watched in primetime behind only NBA and NCAA basketball-focused ESPN. During the month of April, the network garnered 92 of the top 100 telecasts in cable news and continues to hold the largest share of audience in cable news with more than half of the genre’s consumers tuning into the network during primetime in viewers, A25-54 and A18-49. Additionally, FNC is home to the most politically diverse audience as more Democrats and Independents watch FNC than CNN and MSNBC, according to data from Nielsen MRI Fusion.
In primetime and total day, FNC remained cable news’ most-watched channel with double- and triple-digit advantages over CNN and MSNBC. In total day, FNC delivered 1.3 million viewers and 156,000 in A25-54, beating CNN by 151% and MSNBC by 47%. During primetime (7-11 PM/ET), FNC averaged 1.9 million viewers and 209,000 in A25-54, garnering a 202% advantage over CNN and 58% advantage over MSNBC. FNC also dominated in the A18-49 category this month with 97,000 viewers in total day and 132,000 in primetime. From 8- 11PM/ET, FNC garnered two million viewers, 219,000 in A25-54 and 137,000 in A18-49. For the month of April, FNC had the top six programs in cable news and the top 14 programs in A25-54 and A18-49. The network also finished the month as the number one cable news destination for Hispanic A25-54 viewers in primetime and its audience had the longest length of tune among viewers and A25-54 during primetime and total day. Additionally, FNC continued to be the go-to network for breaking news as more viewers tuned into the network than CNN and MSNBC for coverage of Iran’s attack on Israel as well as Israel’s retaliatory strike on Iran earlier this month.
On the heels of marking ten consecutive quarters as the cable’s highest-rated program, FNC’s The Five finished yet another month at number one in viewers with 3,027,000 viewers and 262,000 in A25-54. The Five also delivered cable news’ most-watched telecast for the month on April 15th. At 10 PM/ET, Gutfeld! drew the largest audience in cable news in both A25-54 (295,000) and in the younger A18-49 demo (172,000). Host Greg Gutfeld continued his reign as late-night television’s most-watched host with 2.1 million viewers, outpacing CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC’s The Tonight Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers and CBS’ After Midnight with total viewership. Since its heavily promoted return to television, Gutfeld! has continued to crush The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, topping Stewart this month across the board in viewers, A25-54 and A18-49. Additionally, the April 9th edition of Gutfeld! was cable news’ highest-rated telecast for the month in the A25-54 demo.
FNC’s premier news program Special Report with Bret Baier drew April’s largest cable news audience at 6 PM/ET, averaging 2.1 million viewers and 196,000 in A25-54. Kicking off primetime at 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle beat the cable news competition across the board with 2,013,000 viewers and 198,000 in A25-54. Jesse Watters Primetime finished the month as the second most-watched program in cable news, dominating the 8 PM/ET hour across the board. At 9 PM/ET, Cable news’ longest-running host Sean Hannity and his eponymous program held the genre’s third largest audience with 2,217,000 viewers and 240,000 in A25-54. FOX News @ Night with anchor Trace Gallagher was the 11 PM/ET hour’s highest-rated news program, averaging 1,209,000 viewers and 183,000 in A25-54.
From 5-6 AM/ET, more viewers in America woke up with FNC than any other network as FOX & Friends FIRST dominated the hour in viewers and the younger demo with 551,000 viewers and 92,000 in A25-54. FNC’s signature morning program FOX & Friends marked 38 consecutive months as cable news’ highest-rated program with A25-54 from 6-9 AM/ET, with 1,114,000 viewers and 158,000 in A25-54.
FNC’s powerhouse morning news program America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino crushed the competition in viewers and the younger demo, garnering 1,542,000 viewers and 186,000 in A25-54. At 11 AM/ET, FNC’s Harris Faulkner tops the hour with The Faulkner Focus, averaging 1,510,000 viewers and 188,000 in A25-54. FNC’s hit afternoon ensemble program Outnumbered with co-hosts Faulkner, Emily Compagno and Kayleigh McEnany celebrated its 10th anniversary this month with another ratings win, outpacing the cable news competition with 1.6 million viewers and 197,000 in A25-54 and topped several broadcast programs, including Hoda & Jenna, GMA3, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Talk, NBC News Daily and Drew Barrymore. At 3 PM/ET, The Story with Martha MacCallum was the highest-rated program with 1.5 million viewers and 162,000 in A25-54. Your World with Neil Cavuto, weekdays at 4 PM/ET, averaged 1,481,000 viewers and 160,000, topping the
During the month of April, FNC’s ratings dominance on the weekends continued as the network beat CNN and MSNBC in total day and primetime on Saturdays and Sundays, topping the competition every weekend hour in viewers. The Big Weekend Show (Saturday, 7 PM/ET) was the most-watched show of the day with over 1.3 million viewers. FOX & Friends Saturday (6 AM – 10 AM/ET) was the top show in the 25-54 demo with 167,000 viewers and also nabbed 1.2 million viewers. Life, Liberty & Levin, helmed by Mark Levin, garnered 1.3 million viewers and 104,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s One Nation with Brian Kilmeade scored 1.3 million viewers and 158,000 in the 25-54 demo. Additionally, FOX Report with Jon Scott (weekends, 6 PM/ET) averaged over 1.2 million viewers and 156,000 with A25-54. FOX News Live garnered 927,000 viewers and 108,000 viewers in the 25-54 demo.
In the third month of the newly Jimmy Failla helmed FOX News Saturday Night (10-11 PM/ET), the program continued to excel among its competition. In total viewership, Failla notched 881,000 viewers and 102,000 in the 25-54 demo. Failla beats CNN (792,000 P2+) and MSNBC (637,000 P2+) with viewers.
On Sundays, FNC’s Sunday Morning Futures at 10AM/ET hosted by Maria Bartiromo ranked first for the entire weekend averaging 1.6 million viewers and 189,000 with the 25-54 demo. MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz at 11 AM/ET, delivered 1.2 million viewers and 140,000 in the 25-54 demo. Meanwhile, FNC’s Life, Liberty and Levin notched 1.3 million viewers and 112,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy attracted an audience of 1.2 million viewers and 93,000 in 25-54 demo. Additionally, The Big Weekend Show scored 1.2 million total viewers and 120,000 in the 25-54 demo, while FOX & Friends Sunday notched nearly 1.2 million viewers and ranked second in the younger demo with 164,000 viewers in 25-54.
APRIL 2024 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:
Total Viewers: The Five (3,027,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (2,570,000), Hannity (2,217,000), Gutfeld! (2,083,000), Special Report (2,056,000),
Adults 25-54: Gutfeld! (295,000), The Five (262,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (244,000), Hannity (240,000), The Ingraham Angle (198,000)
Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. April 2024 monthly ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks M-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54, P18-49. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats/specials and include the corresponding program name.
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.
