FOX NEWS CHANNEL MARKS HIGHEST-RATED QUARTER IN NETWORK HISTORY ACROSS TOTAL DAY AND PRIMETIME

Published March 31, 2020

In Total Day, FNC Notches 15 Straight Quarters as the Most-Watched Network in All of Cable 

FNC Notches 73 Consecutive Quarters as the Most-Watched Cable News Network in Total Day and Primetime Viewers 

Hannity, Tucker Carlson Tonight, The Ingraham Angle, The Five and Special Report Finish First Quarter as the Top Five Rated Cable News Programs in Both Categories

Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner Outpaces ABC News’ GMA3 25 Times this Quarter

NEW YORK – March 31, 2020 – FOX News Channel (FNC) completed the first quarter of 2020 with the largest audience in network history in both total day and primetime, according to Nielsen Media Research. Notably, among all of basic cable, FNC was also the most-watched network across both total day and primetime, marking 15 consecutive quarters in the top spot in total day. The network also scored its highest-rated demo since 1Q’2017 in total day and 4Q’16 in prime, growing 42 percent in total day and 39 percent in primetime year-over-year, the most of any cable news network.

Throughout total day and primetime, FNC marked 73 consecutive quarters as the top-rated cable news network and continued to deliver a double-digit percent advantage over both MSNBC and CNN. In total day, FNC garnered 1.9 million viewers and 359,000 with A25-54. In primetime, FNC delivered 3.4 million viewers and 585,000 in the 25-54 demographic, notching 48 consecutive quarters as the leading cable news channel in the key 25-54 demographic. Additionally, FNC beat both CNN and MSNBC combined in primetime with total viewers despite the other networks hosting various town halls and Democratic presidential debates throughout the quarter.

During the first quarter of 2020, FNC claimed 13 of the top 15 cable news programs, as well as 10 of the top 15 in the 25-54 demo. Additionally, nearly all of the network’s early evening and primetime programs notched their highest-rated quarters ever in both total viewers and the key demo, including The Five (weeknights at 5PM/ET), Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights at 6PM/ET), The Story with Martha MacCallum (weeknights at 7PM/ET), Tucker Carlson Tonight (weeknights at 8PM/ET), Hannity (weeknights at 9PM/ET), The Ingraham Angle (weeknights at 10PM/ET), and FOX News @ Night (weeknights at 11PM/ET).

Ranking as the number one program in all of cable news among total viewers and A25-54, Hannity averaged 4.2 million and 745,000 viewers, respectively. This quarter, Hannity also topped both morning shows and evening entertainment programs on broadcast, including ABC’s Modern Family, Shark Tank, The Goldbergs, and Good Morning America, as well as CBS’ S.W.A.T. and NBC’s Today Show.

At 8PM/ET, Tucker Carlson Tonight came in second place with over 4 million viewers and 730,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing the competition combined in both categories. The Ingraham Angle crushed the 10PM/ET timeslot with nearly 3.6 million viewers and 630,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing the competition combined in total viewers. At 5PM/ET, The Five dominated the hour with 3.6 million viewers and 608,000 in the 25-54 demo, coming in ahead of MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and besting CNN and MSNBC combined in both categories in the timeslot.

From 4-6AM/ET, FOX & Friends FIRST was the number one show in its timeslot during each hour, garnering 641,000 and 803,000 viewers, respectively. FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (6-9AM/ET) marked 73 consecutive quarters as the highest-rated morning show in cable news with 1.8 million viewers and 341,000 in the demo, its highest-rated quarter in total viewers. Furthermore, FOX & Friends defeated both New Day and Morning Joe combined with total viewers. FNC’s three-hour morning news offering, America’s Newsroom, with co-anchors Sandra Smith and Ed Henry (9AM-12PM/ET) garnered 2.1 million viewers and 356,000 with A25-54 and reached its highest-rated quarter in total viewers.

FNC’s afternoon ensemble program, Outnumbered (12PM/ET), averaged 2.2 million viewers and 378,000 in the demo, its highest-rated quarter in total viewers. At 1PM/ET, Outnumbered Overtime anchored by Harris Faulkner averaged nearly 2 million viewers and 361,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating ABC’s GMA3 in total viewers a record 25 times since 3Q’19 and delivering the program’s highest-rated quarter in total viewers. At 2PM/ET, The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino delivered 2 million viewers and 354,000 with A25-54 and notched the program’s highest-rated quarter since launch. FNC’s latest addition to the news lineup, Bill Hemmer Reports, averaged 2.2 million viewers and 392,000 in the demo during the 3PM/ET hour. Your World with Neil Cavuto averaged 2.2 million viewers and 383,000 with A25-54, marking its highest-rated quarter with total viewers and highest in the younger demographic since coverage of the Iraq war in 2003.

Among FNC’s early and late evening programming, Special Report with Bret Baier (6PM/ET) garnered 3.1 million viewers and 582,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Story with Martha MacCallum at 7PM/ET delivered 2.8 million viewers and 559,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 11PM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream had an audience of 2 million viewers and 422,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing MSNBC’s 11th Hour with Brian Williams in the 25-54 demographic for the fourth consecutive quarter.

On the weekends, FOX & Friends Weekend (weekends, 6-10AM/ET) dominated CNN and MSNBC combined in both total viewers and the demo, with 1.7 million P2+ and 313,000 in the demo.

Saturday’s primetime powerhouse lineup of Watters World (Saturdays, 8PM/ET), Justice with Judge Jeanine (Saturdays at 9PM/ET) and The Greg Gutfeld Show (Saturdays at 10PM/ET) surpassed CNN and MSNBC combined with P2+. Additionally, FNC won all weekend primetime hours in total viewers, including Watters World (2.7 million P2+; 357,000 A25-54) Justice with Judge Jeanine (2.9 million P2+; 353,000 A25-54), The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton (1.8 million P2+; 280,000 A25-54), and Life, Liberty and Levin (2 million P2+; 300,000 A25-54). Garnering their highest-rated quarters in network history across the board, Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo (Sundays at 10AM/ET) averaged 2.2 million total viewers and 390,000 in the demo and MediaBuzz hosted by Howard Kurtz (Sundays at 11AM/ET) delivered 2 million viewers and 382,000 in the 25-54 demo, propelling them to lead their timeslots.  FOX Report with Jon Scott (2.1 million P2+; 420,000 A25-54) and Cavuto Live (2.2 million P2+; 399,000 A25-54) each secured their highest-rated quarter in both categories. Life, Liberty and Levin (Sundays at 8PM/ET) and The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton (Sundays at 9PM/ET) both earned their highest-rated programs in both P2+ and A25-54 since launch.

In March, FNC continued to rank number one with cable news in total day with 2.1 million viewers and primetime with 3.6 million viewers for the 219th consecutive month. This month also marked FNC’s highest-rated primetime average in total viewers and second highest-rated average in total day viewers, only behind Iraq war coverage in 2003. Additionally, FNC finished March as the highest-rated network in all of cable for the 45th month in a row in total viewers and landed the top spot in total viewers for primetime.

Coming off of its best month in history earlier this quarter, FOX News Digital continued to post a strong performance in March with comprehensive coronavirus coverage propelling the platform to new highs in unique devices and page views, according to Adobe Analytics. FOXNews.com generated record engagement with key initiatives this month such as the daily live blog Q&A with America’s foremost medical experts and a new digital newsletter entitled FOX News Today: The Coronavirus Crisis, providing the latest breaking news updates in the pandemic.

FIRST QUARTER 2020 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:

Total Viewers: Hannity (4,220,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (4,005,000), The Five (3,558,000), The Ingraham Angle (3,551,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (3,129,000)

Adults 25-54:  Hannity (745,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (730,000), The Ingraham Angle (630,000), The Five (608,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (582,000)

1Q’20 VS. 1Q’19 NIELSEN NUMBERS (seven day week, L+SD):

TOTAL DAY

FNC: 1,930,000 total viewers – up 38% (359,000 in 25-54 – up 42%)

CNN: 901,000 total viewers – up 26% (253,000 in 25-54 – up 27%)

MSNBC: 1,095,000 total viewers up 1% (181,000 in 25-54 – down 1%)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET

FNC: 3,387,000 total viewers – up 38% (585,000 in 25-54 – up 39%)

CNN: 1,427,000 total viewers – up 35% (429,000 in 25-54 – up 39%)

MSNBC: 1,928,000 total viewers – flat (340,000 in 25-54 – up 2%)

MARCH 2020 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS: 

Total Viewers: Hannity (4,424,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (4,200,000), The Five (3,873,000), The Ingraham Angle (3,670,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (3,644,000)

Adults 25-54:  Hannity (821,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (808,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (718,000), The Five (703,000), The Ingraham Angle (692,000)

MARCH’20 VS. MARCH’19 NIELSEN NUMBERS (seven day week, L+SD):

TOTAL DAY

FNC: 2,117,000 total viewers – up 49% (427,000 in 25-54 – up 69%)

CNN: 1,198,000 total viewers – up 88% (367,000 in 25-54 – up 112%)

MSNBC: 1,259,000 total viewers – up 22% (220,000 in 25-54 – up 29%)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET

FNC: 3,645,000 total viewers – up 45% (676,000 in 25-54 – up 61%)

CNN: 1,924,000 total viewers – up 109% (620,000 in 25-54 – up 142%)

MSNBC: 2,213,000 total viewers – up 21% (401,000 in 25-54 – up 29%)

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FOX News Media Contact:

Carly Shanahan/212-301-3851

Tess Glancey/212-301-3285

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