Fox News

FNC Leads All of Basic Cable in Primetime and Total Day for Five Consecutive Quarters

Continuing its reign as the most-watched cable news network, FOX News Channel (FNC) marked 63 consecutive quarters as the highest-rated cable news channel in total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. FNC also dominated basic cable in both primetime and total day in total viewers, marking five consecutive quarters as the top-rated basic cable network in both categories.

During 3Q’17, FNC averaged 1.4 million in total viewers and 298,000 with A25-54 in total day. In primetime, FNC delivered 2.2 million in total viewers and 436,000 in the 25-54 demo. For the quarter, FNC outpaced MSNBC and CNN in both primetime and total day in total viewers and with A25-54. Additionally, FNC claimed 13 of the top 20 cable news programs in total viewers and 11 out of the top 20 in the 25-54 demo. All daytime FNC programs (6AM-5PM/ET) posted double-digit gains in the younger 25-54 demo compared to the same quarter last year.

Kicking off FNC’s programming, the network’s signature morning program, FOX & Friends (6-9AM/ET), is on pace to have its highest-rated year in network history, delivering 1.5 million total viewers (up 18%) and 343,000 in the A25-54 demographic (up 23%) during the third quarter of 2017. At 9AM/ET, America’s Newsroom is up 3% in total viewers (1,713,000) and 18% in the younger A25-54 demo (348,000). FNC’s afternoon ensemble program, Outnumbered (12PM/ET), averaged 1.6 million total viewers (up 1%) and 321,000 (up 13%) in A25-54. Shepard Smith Reporting delivered 1.5 million viewers at 3PM/ET and is up 19% in A25-54 (293,000). At 4PM/ET, Your World with Neil Cavuto garnered 1.5 million total viewers and  294,000 viewers in the A25-54 demographic (up 11%).

Among FNC’s evening and primetime programs, Special Report with Bret Baier at 6PM/ET averaged 2,063,000 total viewers and 382,000 in A25-54. The Story with Martha MacCallum at 7PM/ET delivered 1.9 million total viewers and 387,000 in the younger A25-54 demo. At 8PM/ET, Tucker Carlson Tonight was the most-watched FNC program in total viewers for the third quarter of 2017, delivering 2,544,000 viewers and 500,000 in the A25-54 demo. The Five (9PM/ET) averaged 2,340,000 total viewers and 486,000 in A25-54. Hannity was the highest-rated FNC program in the younger A25-54 demo with 533,000 viewers and delivered 2,512,000 in total viewers.

RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:

Total Viewers: The Rachel Maddow Show (2,721,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (2,544,000), Hannity (2,512,000), The Five (2,340,000), Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (2,256,000)

Adults 25-54: The Rachel Maddow Show (606,000), Hannity (533,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (500,000), The Five (486,000), Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (480,000)

3Q’17 VS. 3Q’16 NIELSEN NUMBERS (7 day week, L+SD):

TOTAL DAY

FNC: 1,365,000 total viewers – down 3% (298,000 in 25-54 – up 8%)

CNN: 797,000 total viewers – up 1% (265,000 in 25-54 – up 10%)

MSNBC: 951,000 total viewers – up 41% (214,000 in 25-54 – up 27%)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET

FNC: 2,154,000 total viewers – down 12% (436,000 in 25-54 – down 5%)

CNN: 1,088,000 total viewers – down 11% (379,000 in 25-54 – down 5%)

MSNBC: 1,748,000 total viewers – up 43% (384,000 in 25-54 – up 29%)

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 more than 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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