The One Hour Forum Averaged Over 4.4 Million Viewers and 576,000 in 25-54 Demo from 9-10PM/ET with 1.4 Million During the Encore Presentations for a Total of 5.8 Million Viewers
Moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, the Town Hall Outpaced CNN’s 2.7 Million Viewers for their Republican Presidential Debate by 64%
Regular Airings of “The Five,” “Jesse Watters Primetime,” and “Gutfeld!” All Topped CNN’s Debate
Last Night’s Town Hall Garnered Over Half of the Cable News Audience Share in Viewers at 9PM/ET
NEW YORK – January 11, 2024 – FOX News Channel’s (FNC) three-day marathon of candidate town halls in Des Moines, Iowa moderated by Special Report chief political anchor Bret Baier and The Story’s executive editor and anchor Martha MacCallum concluded last night featuring former President Donald Trump, which was the highest-rated cable news telecast of 2024. Airing from 9-10PM/ET the town hall was the most-watched program in linear television last night averaging a total of 4.4 million viewers and 576,000 in the 25-54 demo, which represented 53% of the cable news share in total viewers and 47% of the cable news share in the key demo.
The encore of the debate from 12-1AMET (9-10PM PT) averaged 902,000 viewers and 191,000 in the 25-54 demo and at 2-3AM/ET (11PM-12AM/PT) drew 506,000 viewers and 108,000 in the 25-54 demo. With both encores, the town hall reached a combined total of 5.8 million viewers and 875,000 in the 25-54 demo.
In contrast, CNN aired its Republican presidential debate in the 9PM/ET hour and garnered 2.7 million viewers and 515,000 in the 25-54 demo. For the full airing from 9-11PM/ET, the debate drew 2.6 million viewers and 541,000 in the 25-54 demo. The debate was CNN’s lowest rated of a presidential election season dating back to the 2016 cycle. FNC continues to hold the record for the highest-rated presidential debate of the season with nearly 13 million tuning in this past August.
Head-to-head, FNC’s town hall topped CNN by double-digit percentage in total viewers (64%) and the 25-54 demo (12%). Last night’s CNN debate was topped by regular airings of The Five at 5PM/ET (2.9 million P2+), Jesse Watters Primetime at 8PM/ET (3.1 million P2+) and Gutfeld! at 10PM/ET (2.8 million P2+.) Additionally, Sean Hannity’s recent town hall with Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and Governor Gavin Newsom (D) outpaced CNN’s presidential debate (4.7 million and 742,000 in 25-54 demo.)
Last night, the town hall with former President Trump notched a 67% increase in total viewers and 85% versus same day last year in the timeslot. The last live town hall with the former president aired on May 3, 2020 from 7-9PM/ET and delivered 3.8 million viewers, showing 16% growth for last night’s airing. Additionally, FNC’s town hall last night beat CNN’s previous town hall with former President Trump that aired on May 10, 2023 and garnered only 3.3 million total viewers.
In primetime from 7-11PM/ET, FNC notched 3.1 million viewers and 374,000 in the 25-54 demo, crushing the cable news competition across the board. From 9PM-10PM/ET, FNC’s town hall also outpaced all broadcast competition in total viewers in the timeslot.
Earlier this week, FNC’s Baier and MacCallum helmed town halls with Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley (Monday; 2.2 million P2+ and 256,000 in 25-54 demo) and Ron DeSantis (Tuesday; 2.2 million P2+ and 241,000 in the 25-54 demo). Combined, the three FNC town halls averaged nearly 9 million viewers and 1.1 million 25-54.
9-10 PM/ET
FNC: 4,426,000 P2+; 576,000 A25-54
CNN: 2,698,000 P2+; 515,000 A25-54
MSNBC: 1,293,000 P2+; 143,000 A25-54
7-11 PM/ET
FNC: 3,133,000 P2+, 374,000 A25-54.
CNN: 1,771,000 P2+, 358,000 A25-54.
MSNBC: 1,486,000 P2+, 153,000 A25-54
12- 1 AM/ET
FNC: 902,000 P2+, 191,000 A25-54
CNN: 578,000 P2+, 190,000 A25-54.
MSNBC: 748,000 P2+, 94,000 A25-54
3-3 AM/ET
FNC: 1,571,000 P2+; 197,000 A25-54
CNN: 756,000 P2+; 154,000 A25-54
MSNBC: 1,009,000 P2+; 100,000 A25-54
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 nearly 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.
