During Ongoing Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War, FNC Holds Over Half the Audience Share in Primetime Viewers, Capturing 52% of Cable News Viewership
FNC Beats CNN and MSNBC Combined in Primetime Viewers; Secures Top 10 Programs in 25-54 Demo
“The Five” Remains Supreme as Most-Watched Program in Cable News Viewers and the 25-54 Demo; “Hannity” is Dominant in A18-49
FNC Notches 94 of the Top 100 Telecasts in Cable News for October
NEW YORK – October 31, 2023 – FOX News Channel (FNC) finished October 2023 as cable television’s most-watched network across total day viewership and second in primetime behind only ESPN, according to Nielsen Media Research. Notably, every weekday program on FNC wins over the cable news competition in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo. FNC also marked 33 consecutive months defeating the cable news competition in primetime total viewers by double and triple-digits across the board and notched 94 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the month. In total day, FNC delivered 1.4 million viewers and 174,000 in the 25-54 demo and was the only cable news network to deliver over 1 million viewers in total day. In primetime from 7-11PM/ET, FNC netted 2.1 million viewers and 244,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating CNN and MSNBC combined in total viewership. Throughout October, FNC secured the top seven programs in cable news with viewers and the top ten cable news shows in the 25-54 demo. Month over month, FNC posted double-digit growth in total day, growing viewership by 27% and 33% in the 25-54 demo versus September. In primetime, the network increased viewership by 26% and 39% in the 25-54 demo throughout October. Most notably, FNC has 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.
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 1.4 million viewers in total day and 186,000 in the 25-54 demo, topping CNN’s 637,000 viewers and 138,000 in the demo, with a 122% and 35% advantage, respectively. In comparison to MSNBC’s 826,000 viewers and 94,000 in the 25-54 demo, FNC also maintains double-digit advantages in both categories (71% with P2+ and 98% with A25-54). In primetime, from October 7th to date, FNC has garnered 2.1 million viewers and 250,000 in the 25-54 demo, securing double and triple-digit advantages over both CNN (745,000 P2+ and 186,000 A25-54) and MSNBC (1.2 million P2+ and 118,000 A25-54). In total viewers, FNC maintained a 176% advantage over CNN and a 78% advantage over MSNBC, while obtaining a 34% lead in the 25-54 demo over CNN and a 112% advantage over MSNBC. In terms of audience share, FNC holds more than half the cable news audience in total viewership with 52% (CNN’s 19% and MSNBC’s 29%) and 45% in the 25-54 demo (CNN’s 34% and MSNBC’s 21%). In total day viewership, FNC has 49% of the audience share and 44% in the 25-54 demo, again easily leading the cable news competition with CNN at 22% P2+ and 33% A25-54, and MSNBC at 29% P2+ and 22% A25-54.
FNC’s The Five, which has been number one show in cable news for over seven consecutive quarters, continued its streak with total viewers, securing 3,003,000 viewers and 316,000 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 2,212,000 million viewers and 242,000 in the 25-54 demo.
Kicking off FNC’s primetime lineup at 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle garnered 2,169,000 viewers and 244,000 in the 25-54 demo, with Laura Ingraham securing her highest-rated month of 2023 with total viewership. Following at 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 2,578,000 viewers and 270,000 with A25-54, making it the highest-rated program in primetime viewers and second overall behind The Five. Watters increased the timeslot double-digits in both categories versus prior month and since taking over the 8PM hour in July, he has grown the 25-54 demo by 37% and continues to post double- and triple-digit advantages over CNN and MSNBC.
FNC’s Hannity ((9PM/ET) scored 2,407,000 viewers, 300,000 in the 25-54 demo and 198,000 in A18-49, achieving the most-watched program in the youngest 18-49 group 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 demo viewers, delivered 2,028,000 viewers and 292,000 in A25-54, rounding out the three most-watched programs among primetime demo viewers. 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 1,303,000 viewers and 227,000 with A25-54.
From 5-6 AM/ET, FOX & Friends First garnered 569,000 viewers while FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) finished October with over 1,149,000 viewers and 146,000 in the demo, notching 32 consecutive months atop the 25-54 demo. Comparatively, CNN This Morning averaged just 404,000 viewers and 85,000 with A25-54 in October. 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 1,626,000 viewers and 196,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, also notched 1.6 million viewers and 210,000 in the 25-54 demo and bested CNN and MSNBC across the board. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered earned 1,743,000 viewers and 221,000 in the 25-54 demo. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith garnered 1,673,000 viewers and 209,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 3 PM/ET, anchor and executive editor Martha MacCallum’s The Story averaged 1,669,000 viewers and 206,000 in the 25-54 demo, while Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4 PM/ET nabbed 1,680,000 viewers and 206,000 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 (Saturdays, 10 AM/ET) was the most-watched of the day with nearly 1.4 million viewers and 184,000 with A25-54. Following, Life, Liberty & Levin in its new Saturday night slot was the second most-watched cable news program on Saturday in total viewers, also netting nearly 1.4 million viewers and 124,000 in the 25-54 demo. One Nation, helmed by Brian Kilmeade, garnered 1.2 million viewers and 137,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s signature FOX & Friends Weekend led the morning shows, scoring 1.2 million viewers and 158,000 in the 25-54 demo for its Saturday airings. Additionally, FOX Report with Jon Scott (weekends, 6 PM/ET) averaged 1.2 million viewers and 129,000 with A25-54, while The Big Weekend Show drew 1.3 million viewers and 140,000 A25-54. FOX News Live garnered over 1 million viewers and rounded out the top five in the 25-54 demo with 136,000 viewers.
On Sundays, FNC’s Sunday Morning Futures at 10AM/ET hosted by Maria Bartiromo ranked first across both categories, averaging 1.6 million viewers and 183,000 with A25-54. MediaBuzz, hosted by Howard Kurtz at 11 AM/ET, delivered 1.3 million viewers and 154,000 in the 25-54 demo. Meanwhile, FNC’s Life, Liberty and Levin earned the second top-rated spot in total viewers for Sunday, with 1.5 million viewers and 112,000 A25-54. FNC’s Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy delivered an audience of 1.2 million viewers and 116,000 A25-54. Additionally, The Big Weekend Show scored 1.3 million total viewers and 130,000 in the 25-54 demo, while FOX & Friends Weekend notched 1.2 million viewers and rounded out the top three in the younger demo with 148,000 viewers in 25-54.
OCTOBER 2023 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:
Total Viewers: The Five (3,003,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (2,578,000), Hannity (2,407,000), Special Report (2,212,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,169,000)
Adults 25-54: The Five (316,000), Hannity (300,000), Gutfeld! (292,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (270,000), The Ingraham Angle (244,000)
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 nearly 80 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top 10 programs.
