Fox News

FNC is the Most-Watched Cable News Network for 197 Consecutive Months in Total Day and Primetime 

Hannity Continues to Lead Cable News in Both Total Viewers and Demo 

FOX News Channel (FNC) topped all of basic cable in total day with P2+ for the month of May, according to Nielsen Media Research. In total day, FNC delivered 1.4 million in total viewers, marking the 23^rd consecutive month that the network dominated all of basic cable in total day. Additionally, FNC has been the most-watched cable news channel in total day and primetime with P2+ for 197 consecutive months.

Throughout total day and primetime, FNC continued to outpace CNN and MSNBC with P2+, Adults 25-54, Adults 18-49 and Adults 18-34. In primetime, FNC averaged 2,381,000 beating CNN’s 835,000 and MSNBC’s 1,654,000 in total viewers. With Adults 25-54, FNC garnered 461,000 topping CNN’s 265,000 and MSNBC’s 329,000. In total day, FNC averaged 1,394,000 in total viewers, crushing CNN’s 655,000 and MSNBC’s 914,000.  In the 25-54 demo, FNC averaged 279,000, ranking ahead of CNN’s 198,000 and MSNBC’s 196,000. Additionally, FNC led all of cable news in primetime and total day in the younger 18-49 and 18-34 demos, averaging 283,000 and 174,000 and 67,000 and 41,000 viewers, respectively.

Additionally, the network claimed 10 of the top 15 cable news programs in total viewers. FNC’s primetime programs Hannity, Tucker Carlson Tonight and The Ingraham Angle were among the top four programs in both total viewers and with 25-54 demo, and occupied seven of the top 15 in the 18-49 demo. Hannity was also the highest-rated non-sports program in all of cable with P2+, only eclipsed by the NBA Playoffs on TNT and ESPN.

Kicking off FNC’s daytime programming, the 4AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First hosted by Heather Childers garnered 500,000 in total viewers and 125,000 with A25-54. The 5AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First had a total of 643,000 total viewers and 165,000 with A25-54. Continuing to make cable news history, FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends marked 199 months as the number one cable news program in its time slot with an average of 1.6 million in total viewers and 339,000 with the 25-54 demo. At 9AM/ET, America’s Newsroom delivered 1.6 million in total viewers with P2+ and 286,000 with A25-54. FNC’s afternoon ensemble program at 12PM/ET, Outnumbered, garnered 1.5 million in total viewers and 255,000 in the 25-54 category. Outnumbered Overtime anchored by Harris Faulkner delivered 1.4 million in total viewers and 262,000 with A25-54 while The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino averaged 1.4 million in total viewers and 256,000 in the 25-54 demo. At the 3PM/ET hour, FNC’s Shepard Smith Reporting averaged 1.4 million viewers with P2+ and 254,000 with A25-54. Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4PM/ET delivered 1.4 million viewers with P2+ and averaged 260,000 with A25-54.

During FNC’s early evening and primetime programming, The Five garnered 2.2 million in total viewers and 379,000 in the demo. Anchored by chief political anchor Bret Baier at 6PM/ET, Special Report averaged 2.1 million in total viewers and 380,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Story with Martha MacCallum at 7PM/ET delivered 1.9 million in total viewers and 379,000 with A25-54.

At 8PM/ET, Tucker Carlson Tonight delivered 2.6 million in total viewers and 519,000 with A25-54.  For the second 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 with 650,000. The Ingraham Angle, hosted by Laura Ingraham, averaged 2.6 million in total viewers and 523,000 with A25-54. Additionally, FOX News @ Night anchored by Shannon Bream garnered 1.5 million in total viewers and 353,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing The 11th Hour with Brian Williams and CNN Tonight in both categories. MediaBuzz was also the number one program in both categories on Sundays at 11AM/ET with 1.3 million in total viewers and 277,000 in the 25-54 demo.

RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS FOR MAY 2018:

Total Viewers: Hannity (3,261,000), Rachel Maddow Show (2,627,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (2,617,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,589,000), The Five (2,153,000)  

Adults 25-54: Hannity (650,000), Rachel Maddow Show (531,000), The Ingraham Angle (523,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (519,000), Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (397,000)

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

TOTAL DAY:

FNC: 1,394,000 total viewers – down 2% (279,000 in 25-54 – down 7%)

CNN: 655,000 total viewers – down 20% (198,000 in 25-54 – down 27%)

MSNBC: 914,000 total viewers – down 1% (196,000 in 25-54 – down 11%)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET:

FNC: 2,381,000 total viewers – up 6% (461,000 in 25-54 – up 2%)

CNN: 835,000 total viewers – down 25% (265,000 in 25-54 – down 34%)

MSNBC: 1,654,000 total viewers – down 2% (329,000 in 25-54 – down 21%)

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.

FOX News Media Contact:

Carly Shanahan/212-301-3851