FOX NEWS CHANNEL MARKS 71 CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS AS THE MOST-WATCHED CABLE NEWS NETWORK IN TOTAL DAY AND PRIMETIME

Published October 1, 2019

FNC Continues to Dominate All of Basic Cable in Total Day and Primetime for Month of September and Third Quarter 2019

Hannity, Tucker Carlson Tonight and The Ingraham Angle Finish Third Quarter as the Top Three Rated Cable News Programs in Both Categories

Outnumbered Overtime Host Harris Faulkner Overhauls ABC News’ “GMA3” 25 Times this Quarter

NEW YORK – October 1, 2019 – FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the third quarter of 2019 marking 71 consecutive quarters as the most-watched cable news network in total day and primetime among total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. During 3Q’19, FNC averaged 1.4 million viewers and 230,000 with A25-54 in total day. In primetime, FNC delivered 2.4 million viewers and 366,000 in the 25-54 demographic, notching 46 consecutive quarters as the top-rated cable news channel in prime with A25-54 and besting MSNBC and CNN across the board.

Once again, FNC had double-digit percent advantages over MSNBC and CNN in both categories, as well as triple-digit percent advantages over CNN in primetime total viewers. Notably, among all of basic cable, FNC was the most-watched network across both total day and primetime, marking 13 consecutive quarters in the top spot in total day.

In September, FNC continued to rank number one with cable news in total day with 1.4 million viewers and primetime with 2.4 million viewers for the 213th consecutive month.  Additionally, FNC finished September as the highest-rated network in all of cable for the 39th month in a row in total viewers and landed the top spot in total viewers for primetime.

In third quarter 2019, the network claimed 10 of the top 15 cable news programs in total viewers and 10 of the top 15 in the 25-54 demo. Notching four of the top five shows in cable news in both categories, FNC’s evening and primetime programs dominated the quarter, including Hannity (9PM/ET) as the number one program in all of cable news among total viewers and the demo with 3.3 million and 510,000 viewers, respectively. On MSNBC, The Rachel Maddow Show at 9PM/ET ranked 4th place for the quarter, marking her lowest-rated demo since 2Q’16 and lowest-rated viewership since 1Q’17. At 8PM/ET, Tucker Carlson Tonight came in second place with 3.1 million viewers and 494,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing the competition combined in total viewers. The Ingraham Angle crushed the 10PM/ET timeslot with 2.6 million viewers and 417,000 in the 25-54 demo, while The Five dominated the 5PM/ET timeslot with 2.5 million viewers and 387,000 in the 25-54 demo, right behind MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow in fifth place and besting CNN and MSNBC combined in both categories in the timeslot.

Kicking off the day at 4AM/ET, FOX & Friends First with Heather Childers was the number one show in its timeslot with 486,000 viewers, followed by FOX & Friends First at 5AM/ET, which averaged 664,000 viewers. FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (6-9AM/ET), which just celebrated its 21st anniversary, marked 71 consecutive quarters as the highest-rated morning show in cable news with 1,455,000 viewers and 274,000 in the demo. Continuing to dominate CNN’s New Day, which marked its lowest-rated demo since 3Q’ 2015, FOX & Friends more than tripled the failing New Day with Alisyn Camerota & John Berman for the 2nd quarter in a row. Furthermore, FOX & Friends defeated New Day and Morning Joe combined with A25-54.  America’s Newsroom with co-anchors Bill Hemmer and Sandra Smith (9AM-12PM/ET) garnered 1.5 million viewers and 234,000 with A25-54.

FNC’s afternoon ensemble program, Outnumbered (12PM/ET) averaged 1.5 million viewers and 235,000 in the demo. At 1PM/ET, Outnumbered Overtime anchored by Harris Faulkner averaged 1.3 million viewers and 211,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating ABC’s GMA3 in total viewers a record 25 times over the course of the entire quarter and beat the broadcast show most often over the last several weeks after they added a third new cohost. Most notably, August 21st marked the first time ever that Faulkner topped the broadcast show, which just underwent its third name change, in both categories with a 26 percent advantage in total viewers and notching 271,000 in the demo vs. ABC’s 270,000.

At 2PM/ET, The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino delivered 1.3 million viewers and 201,000 with A25-54, while at 3PM/ET, Shepard Smith Reporting averaged 1.3 million viewers and 195,000 in the demo. Your World with Neil Cavuto averaged 1.4 million viewers and 222,000 with A25-54. Meanwhile, MSNBC’s Deadline with Nicolle Wallace delivered its lowest-rated quarter in the demo since launch.

Among FNC’s early and late evening programming, Special Report with Bret Baier (6PM/ET) garnered 2.2 million viewers and 342,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Story with Martha MacCallum at 7PM/ET delivered 1.9 million viewers and 313,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11PM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream averaged 1.4 million viewers and 263,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing MSNBC’s 11th Hour with Brian Williams in the 25-54 demographic for the second quarter in a row. The 11th Hour also hit its lowest-rated demo since launch 3Q’ 2016.

On the weekends, The Greg Gutfeld Show secured 1.7 million total viewers and 239,000 in the demo, beating CNN and MSNBC combined across the board in the timeslot. Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo (Sundays 10AM/ET) delivered with 1.4 million total viewers and 235,000 in the demo.  Media Buzz hosted by Howie Kurtz delivered 1.3 million viewers and 218,000 in the 25-54 demo, propelling him to the lead spot on Sundays at 11AM/ET.  Additionally, FNC won all weekend primetime hours in total viewers, including Watters World (1.6 million in P2+; 185,000 in 25-54) which doubled MSNBC’s already canceled Saturday Night Politics with Donny Deutsch respectively, Justice with Judge Jeanine (1.9 million in P2+; 199,000 in 25-54), The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton (1.3 million in P2+; 162,000 in 25-54), and Life, Liberty and Levin (1.3 million in P2+; 159,000 in 25-54).  

THIRD QUARTER 2019 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:

Total Viewers: Hannity (3,276,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (3,082,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,629,000), The Rachel Maddow Show (2,518,000), The Five (2,500,000)

Adults 25-54:  Hannity (510,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (494,000), The Ingraham Angle (417,000), The Rachel Maddow Show (393,000), The Five (387,000)

3Q’19 VS. 3Q’18 NIELSEN NUMBERS (seven day week, L+SD):

TOTAL DAY

FNC: 1,364,000 total viewers – down 3% (230,000 in 25-54 – down 15%)

CNN: 624,000 total viewers – down 13% (148,000 in 25-54 – down 31%)

MSNBC: 880,000 total viewers – down 15% (128,000 in 25-54 – down 34%)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET

FNC: 2,431,000 total viewers – down 1% (366,000 in 25-54 – down 19%)

CNN: 1,037,000 total viewers – up 1% (268,000 in 25-54 – down 20%)

MSNBC: 1,532,000 total viewers – down 18% (228,000 in 25-54 – down 34%)

SEPTEMBER 2019 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS: 

Total Viewers: Hannity (3,243,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (3,018,000), The Rachel Maddow Show (2,688,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,673,000), The Five (2,536,000)

Adults 25-54:  Hannity (492,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (472,000), The Rachel Maddow Show (425,000), The Ingraham Angle (403,000), The Five (375,000)

SEPTEMBER’19 VS. SEPTEMBER’18 NIELSEN NUMBERS (seven day week, L+SD):

TOTAL DAY

FNC: 1,365,000 total viewers – down 10% (223,000 in 25-54 – down 23%)

CNN: 627,000 total viewers – down 22% (146,000 in 25-54 – down 37%)

MSNBC: 914,000 total viewers – down 20% (130,000 in 25-54 – down 38%)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET

FNC: 2,413,000 total viewers – down 8% (349,000 in 25-54 – down 27%)

CNN: 883,000 total viewers – down 21% (224,000 in 25-54 – down 37%)

MSNBC: 1,596,000 total viewers – down 21% (239,000 in 25-54 – down 37%)

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