Fox News

‘Hannity’ Tops All of Basic Cable Programs in Total Viewers Including Discovery’s Shark Week 

FNC Continues to Outpace the Cable News Competition in Total Day and Primetime with P2+ for 199 Months in a Row

Research Intelligencer by Brand Keys Ranks FNC as Most Trusted Cable News Source

FOX News Channel (FNC) proved its dominance once again during the month of July, marking 25 consecutive months as the most-watched basic cable network with 1.4 million in total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. FNC was also the number one cable news network in both primetime and total day with Total Viewers (P2+), notching 199 months in a row of a commanding ratings lead. The network was also ranked the second “most trusted” television brand in the country by a new Research Intelligencer study via Brand Keys, behind only the BBC. (*source/chart attached below).

Additionally, Hannity was the top-rated program in all of basic cable in total viewers for regularly scheduled programming this month, even eclipsing Discovery’s much touted Shark Week programming. Hannity averaged 3.4 million in total viewers, crushing Shark Week’s average of 1.7 million in total viewers. Shark Week  30^th anniversary special programming was hosted by former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal and heavily promoted, yet still lost to Hannity head to head. Furthermore, Hannity’s telecast on July 9^th, which included coverage of President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, was also the highest-rated telecast this month with P2+ delivering 5.8 million viewers.

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 2,406,000 beating CNN’s 891,000 and MSNBC’s 1,663,000 in total viewers. With Adults 25-54, FNC garnered 443,000, topping CNN’s 297,000 and MSNBC’s 309,000.  In total day, FNC averaged 1,368,000 in total viewers, trouncing CNN’s 638,000 and MSNBC’s 921,000.  In the 25-54 demo, FNC averaged 265,000 ranking ahead of CNN with 192,000 and MSNBC with 177,000. Additionally, FNC leads all of cable news in primetime and total day in the younger 18-49 and 18-34 demos, averaging 264,000 and 161,000 and 62,000 and 35,000 viewers, respectively.

For the month of July, the network claimed 13 of the top 20 cable news programs in total viewers and boasted 11 of the top 20 cable news programs in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s primetime programs Hannity, Tucker Carlson Tonight, The Ingraham Angle and The Five were among the top four programs in both total viewers and in the 25-54 demographic.

Kicking off FNC’s daytime programming, the 4AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First hosted by Heather Childers garnered 497,000 in total viewers and 111,000 with A25-54. The 5AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First had a total of 611,000 total viewers and 145,000 with A25-54. Continuing to make cable news history, FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends marked 201 months as the number one cable news program in its timeslot with an average of 1.5 million in total viewers and 301,000 with the 25-54 demo. At 9AM/ET, America’s Newsroom delivered 1.6 million in total viewers with P2+ and 288,000 with A25-54. FNC’s afternoon ensemble program at 12PM/ET, Outnumbered, garnered 1.6 million in total viewers and 273,000 in the 25-54 category. Outnumbered Overtime anchored by Harris Faulkner delivered 1.4 million in total viewers and 255,000 with A25-54 while The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino averaged 1.4 million in total viewers and 241,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the 3PM/ET hour, FNC’s Shepard Smith Reporting averaged 1.3 million viewers with P2+ and 236,000 with A25-54. Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4PM/ET delivered 1.4 million viewers with P2+ and averaged 257,000 with A25-54.

During FNC’s early evening and primetime programming, The Five garnered 2.2 million in total viewers and 393,000 in the demo. Anchored by chief political anchor Bret Baier at 6PM/ET, Special Report averaged 2.1 million in total viewers with P2+ and 378,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Story with Martha MacCallum at 7PM/ET delivered 1.9 million in total viewers and 384,000 with A25-54.

At 8PM/ET, Tucker Carlson Tonight delivered 2.7 million in total viewers and 524,000 with A25-54. Hannity was the most-watched cable news program for the month, with 3.4 million in total viewers.  Hannity also ranked number one in cable news in the 25-54 demo, averaging 623,000. The Ingraham Angle, hosted by Laura Ingraham, averaged 2.6 million in total viewers and averaged 489,000 in the A25-54 demo. FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream garnered 1.5 million in total viewers and 330,000 with A25-54, outpacing MSNBC’s 11^th Hour in the younger demo. During the weekends, Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo averaged 1.5 million in total viewers and 287,000 in the demo on Sundays at 10AM/ET. MediaBuzz hosted by Howie Kurtz delivered 1.3 million in total viewers and 243,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating CNN’s Reliable Sources on Sundays at 11AM/ET.

 

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

Total Viewers: Hannity (3,365,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (2,695,000), Rachel Maddow Show (2,670,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,613,000), The Five (2,240,000)

Adults 25-54: Hannity (623,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (524,000), Rachel Maddow Show (511,000), The Ingraham Angle (489,000), The Five (393,000)

 

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

TOTAL DAY:

FNC: 1,368,000 total viewers – up 5% (265,000 in 25-54 – down 4%) (161,000 in 18-49)

CNN: 638,000 total viewers – down 5% (192,000 in 25-54 – down 11%) (147,000 in 18-49)

MSNBC: 921,000 total viewers – up 2% (177,000 in 25-54 – down 14%) (125,000 in 18-49)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET

FNC: 2,406,000 total viewers – up 16% (443,000 in 25-54 – up 12%) (264,000 in 18-49)

CNN: 891,000 total viewers – up 1% (297,000 in 25-54 – up 1%) (231,000 in 18-49)

MSNBC: 1,663,000 total viewers – 0% (309,000 in 25-54 – down 17%) (219,000 in 18-49)

 

Data Chart: Brand Keys Media

 

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.  According to a Suffolk University/USA Today survey, Fox News is the most trusted source for television news or commentary in the country and a 2017 Gallup/Knight Foundation survey found that among Americans who could name an objective news source, Fox News is the top-cited outlet.  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.