FOX NEWS CHANNEL DOMINATES BASIC CABLE FOR 20 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS IN TOTAL DAY

Published February 27, 2018

FNC Was Also Most-Watched Basic Cable Network in Primetime 

Hannity and Tucker Carlson Tonight were the Top Cable News Programs in Both Total Viewers and the 25-54 Demo

For the month of February, FOX News Channel (FNC) topped all of basic cable in total day and primetime in total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. Delivering 1.5 million in total viewers, FNC marked the 20th consecutive month that the network dominated all of basic cable in total day. In primetime, FNC garnered 2.8 million in total viewers. Additionally, FNC has also been the most-watched cable news channel in total day and primetime with P2+ for 194 consecutive months.

Throughout total day and primetime, FNC continues to outpace CNN and MSNBC with P2+, Adults 25-54, Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34. In primetime, FNC averaged 2,766,000 beating CNN’s 979,000 and MSNBC’s 1,805,000 in total viewers. With Adults 25-54, FNC garnered 576,000 topping CNN’s 357,000 and MSNBC’s 397,000.  In total day, FNC averaged 1,548,000 in total viewers, dominating CNN’s 700,000 and MSNBC’s 989,000.  In the 25-54 demo, FNC averaged 330,000 and ranked ahead of CNN with 230,000 and MSNBC with 216,000. Additionally, FNC leads all of cable news in primetime and total day in the younger 18-49 and 18-34 demos, averaging 357,000 and 208,000 and 82,000 and 47,000 viewers, respectively.

Kicking off FNC’s daytime programming, the 4AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First hosted by Heather Childers garnered 549,000 in total viewers and 142,000 with A25-54. The 5AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First had a total of 707,000 total viewers and 186,000 with A25-54. Continuing to make cable news history, FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends marked 196 months as the number one cable news program in its timeslot with an average of 1.6 million in total viewers and 372,000 with the 25-54 demo. At 9AM/ET, America’s Newsroom delivered 1.8 million in total viewers with P2+ and 340,000 with A25-54. FNC’s afternoon ensemble program at 12PM/ET, Outnumbered, garnered 1.8 million in total viewers and 335,000 in the 25-54 category. Outnumbered Overtime anchored by Harris Faulkner delivered 1.6 million in total viewers and 338,000 with A25-54 while The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino averaged 1.6 million in total viewers and 322,000 in the 25-54 demo.  During the 3PM/ET hour, FNC’s Shepard Smith Reporting averaged 1.6 million viewers with P2+ and 335,000 with A25-54. Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4PM/ET delivered 1.6 million viewers with P2+ and averaged 306,000 with A25-54.

During FNC’s early evening and primetime programming, The Five garnered 2.5 million in total viewers and 464,000 in the demo. Anchored by chief political anchor Bret Baier at 6PM/ET, Special Report averaged 2.6 million in total viewers with P2+ and 496,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Story with Martha MacCallum at 7PM/ET delivered 2.3 million in total viewers and 475,000 with A25-54.

This month, FNC programs airing from 8PM/ET through 11PM/ET had their highest numbers in total viewers and the 25-54 demo since launching or moving to their respective timeslots. FNC programs also notched three of the top six most-watched programs in the younger 18-49 category.

At 8PM/ET, Tucker Carlson Tonight was the second most-watched cable news program garnering 3.1 million in total viewers and 650,000 with A25-54.  For the fifth consecutive month, Hannity was the most-watched cable news program, with 3.3 million in total viewers.  Hannity was also ranked number one in the 25-54 demo, averaging 711,000. The Ingraham Angle, hosted by Laura Ingraham, averaged 2.6 million in total viewers and 538,000 with A25-54. Additionally, FOX News @ Night anchored by Shannon Bream garnered 1.5 million in total viewers and 375,000 with A25-54, outpacing MSNBC’s 11th Hour with Brian Williams and CNN Tonight.

RATINGS FOR THE TOP 5 PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS FOR FEBRUARY 2018:

Total Viewers: Hannity (3,333,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (3,144,000), Rachel Maddow Show (2,874,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,602,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (2,556,000)

Adults 25-54: Hannity (711,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (650,000), Rachel Maddow Show (641,000), The Ingraham Angle (538,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (496,000)

FEBRUARY 2018 VS. FEBRUARY 2017 NIELSEN NUMBERS (7-day week, L+SD):

TOTAL DAY:

FNC: 1,548,000 total viewers – down 12% (330,000 in 25-54 – down 10%)

CNN: 700,000 total viewers – down 18% (230,000 in 25-54 – down 19%)

MSNBC: 989,000 total viewers – up 23% (216,000 in 25-54 – up 15%)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET:

FNC: 2,766,000 total viewers – down 5% (576,000 in 25-54 – down 3%)

CNN: 979,000 total viewers – down 18% (357,000 in 25-54 – down 16%)

MSNBC: 1,805,000 total viewers – up 21% (397,000 in 25-54 – up 15%)

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service 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 16 years and according to Suffolk University/USA Today and Gallup/Knight Foundation polling, is both the most trusted television news outlet and the most independent information 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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FOX News Media Contacts:

Carly Shanahan/ 212.301.3851

Jaclyn Giuliano/212.301.3436

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