Fox News

The O’Reilly Factor Dominates All of Cable Weekday For February

FOX News Channel (FNC) was the number one network on basic cable for the eighth consecutive month in total day viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. For the month of February, The O’Reilly Factor at 8PM/ET was the most watched weekday program in all of cable while Tucker Carlson Tonight (9 PM/ET) claimed the fifth highest rated program in cable in the same category. Additionally, FNC programs made up 32 of the top 50  basic cable telecasts. February 2017 marked FNC’s 182^nd consecutive month as the number one cable news channel in total viewers and the network’s highest rated month since November 2016.

In primetime, FNC averaged 2.9 million viewers (up 31% year-to-year) and 592,000 in the 25-54 demo (up 39%), topping CNN and MSNBC in both categories and combined in viewers, while MSNBC beat CNN in total viewers. Additionally, FNC outpaced the competition in the younger primetime demos including the 18-49 and 18-34 categories with FNC posting the largest year over year growth in the 18-34 demo (up 29%) compared to CNN (down 35%) and MSNBC (up 20%). In total day, FNC averaged 1.8 million viewers (up 32% year-to-year), topping CNN and MSNBC combined.  In the 25-54 demo, FNC averaged 368,000 (up 40%).

FNC also had 13 of the top 15 programs in cable news in total viewers and seven out of the top ten programs in A25-54. The O’Reilly Factor (8PM/ET) dominated all categories as the number one program in cable news with 4,187,000 million viewers and 770,000 in the demo. Tucker Carlson Tonight (9PM/ET) was the number two program in cable news averaging  3,282,000 million viewers (up 31%) and 695,000 in the demo (up 55%). Hannity was the number three program in the cable news demo with 653,000 (up 55%) and  averaged ranked number five in total viewers with 2,822,000 million viewers. Special Report with Bret Baier at 6PM/ET averaged 3,050,000 in total viewers (up 27%) and 542,000 A25-54 (up 36%) while The First 100 Days (7PM/ET) anchored by Martha MacCallum averaged 2,770,000 in total viewers (up 32%) and 534,000 in the demo (up 58%). Additionally, every 5AM-12AM/ET weekday program on FNC was up double-digits in both viewers and the 25-54 demo compared to the same month last year (see attached cable rankers).

RATINGS FOR THE TOP 5 PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS FOR FEBRUARY 2017:  

Total Viewers:  The O’Reilly Factor (4,187,000); Tucker Carlson Tonight (3,282,000); The Five (3,054,000); Special Report with Bret Baier (3,050,000); Hannity (2,822,000) 

Adults 25-54:  The O’Reilly Factor (770,000); Tucker Carlson Tonight (695,000); Hannity (653,000); Special Report with Bret Baier (542,000); The First 100 Days (534,000) 

FEBRUARY 2017  VS.  FEBRUARY 2016 NIELSEN NUMBERS (7 day week, L+SD):

TOTAL DAY

FNC: 1,762,000 total viewers – up 32% (368,000 in 25-54 – up 40%)

CNN: 853,000 total viewers – up 17%; (284,000 in 25-54 – up 35%)

MSNBC: 807,000 total viewers – up 54%; (188,000 in 25-54 – up 40%)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET

FNC 2,916,000 total viewers – up 31% (592,000 in 25-54 – up 39%)

CNN: 1,188,000 total viewers – down 26%; (425,000 in 25-54 – down 15%)

MSNBC: 1,496,000 total viewers – up 55%; (345,000 in 25-54 – up 41%)

PRIMETIME: 7-11PM/ET

FNC: 2,794,000 total viewers – up 30%; (558,000 in 25-54 – up 39%)

CNN: 1,173,000 total viewers – down 18%; (415,000 in 25-54 – down 5%)

MSNBC: 1,420,000 total viewers – up 52%; (322,000 in 25-54 – up 42%)

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service dedicated to delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most watched television news channel for 15 years and according to a Suffolk University/USA Today poll, is the most trusted television news source in the country. Owned by 21st Century Fox, FNC is available in 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top ten programs in the genre.

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FNC Media Contacts:

Carly Shanahan/212-301-3851

Jessica Jensen/ 212-301-3531