Fox News

FNC Peaks at 5.7 Million Viewers in the 11 PM/ET Hour on July 4^th, Tops CBS in Primetime and Secures 78% of Cable News Audience Share 

FNC Outpaces ABC During Coverage of the Times Square Ball Drop on July 3rd

NEW YORK – July 8, 2026 – FOX News Channel (FNC) delivered its highest-rated Fourth of July in network history during its marathon America 250 programming across total day and primetime peaking at 5.7 million viewers and 701,000 in the 25-54 demo during President Trump’s speech from 11:15-11:45 PM/ET according to big data + panel ratings from Nielsen Media Research. FNC averaged 3.5 million viewers and 357,000 in the 25-54 demo during primetime and 2.3 million viewers and 262,000 in the 25-54 demo across total day on July 4 leading CBS in primetime (2 million viewers). Special coverage in Washington DC hosted by Bret Baier, Sean Hannity, Dana Perino, Harris Faulkner, and Brian Kilmeade from 7 PM – 1 AM/ET secured 3.9 million viewers and 459,000 in the 25-54 demo commanding 73% of the cable news share.

On July 3, FNC posted 2.8 million viewers and 240,000 in the 25-54 demo during primetime and 1.8 million viewers and 155,000 in the 25-54 demo throughout total day. Notably, FNC surpassed CBS (1.7 million viewers) and NBC (1.5 million viewers throughout primetime. Coverage of the Times Square ball drop led FNC to 2.1 million viewers and 197,000 in the 25-54 demo from 11:30 PM – 12:30 AM/ET leading ABC (2 million viewers).

FNC has averaged 2.4 million viewers in primetime and 1.6 million viewers in total day over 11 days of America 250 coverage broadcast in multiple locations from June 24-July 4.

**Big Data + Panel Ratings According to Nielsen Media Research

July 4 11:15 – 11:45 PM/ET

FNC: 5.7 million viewers; 701,000 A25-54

CNN: 1.3 million viewers; 337,000 A25-54

MS NOW: 367,000 viewers; 51,000 A25-54

July 4 Primetime (8-11 PM/ET)

FNC: 3.5 million viewers; 357,000 A25-54

CBS: 2 million viewers; 390,000 A25-54

CNN: 1.3 million viewers; 254,000 A25-54

MS NOW: 326,000 viewers; 24,000 A25-54

July 4 Total Day (6 AM – 6 AM/ET)

FNC: 2.3 million viewers; 262,000 A25-54

CNN: 626,000 viewers; 110,000 A25-54

MS NOW: 368,000 viewers; 38,000 A25-54

July 3 Primetime (8-11 PM/ET)

FNC: 2.8 million viewers; 240,000 A25-54

CBS: 1.7 million viewers; 157,000 A25-54

NBC: 1.5 million viewers; 242,000 A25-54

CNN: 664,000 viewers; 104,000 A25-54

MS NOW: 908,000 viewers; 51,000 A25-54

July 3 Total Day (3 AM – 3 AM/ET)

FNC: 1.8 million viewers; 155,000 A25-54

CNN: 457,000 viewers; 56,000 A25-54

MS NOW: 605,000 viewers; 55,000 A25-54

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service and has been the number one network in basic cable for the last 10 years and the most-watched television news channel for more than 24 consecutive years, currently attracting nearly 60% of the cable news viewing audience according to Nielsen Media Research. Notably, Nielsen/MRI Fusion has consistently shown FNC to be the network of choice for more Democrat and Independent viewers, with the most politically diverse audience in cable news. A 2026 New York Times/Siena poll of registered voters found that FNC was the leading single source of news in the country, outranking all national television, cable and print/online organizations, while a 2024 Pew Research Center study found that more Americans named FNC as their main source for political news than any other network. Owned by Fox Corporation, FNC is available in more than 60 million homes including streaming on FOX One and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top 10 programs in the genre.

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FOX News Media Contact:

Connor Smith: 212-301-3879 or Connor.Smith@FOX.com