CableTV News Ratings: Fox News, CNN Increase Viewers

Fox News remained the overwhelming primetime choice for cable news viewers during a busy second quarter of this year, and both it and a more competitive CNN were up double-digits in the key news demo vs. last year — pushing MSNBC farther down the ratings totem pole, according to Variety.

CNN had a strong quarter relative to the competition on a total-day basis, as it was up 31% in the news demo of adults 25-54 and 26% in total viewers, according to Nielsen estimates. FNC was about even (down 2% in 25-54, up 4% in total viewers) while MSNBC slid 17% in adults 25-54 and dipped 5% in total viewers.

Among individual programs for the quarter, Fox News could claim the top six in adults 25-54, led by “The O’Reilly Factor” (423,000) and “The Kelly File” (400,000). (“Kelly File” had a notable close to the quarter, as Megyn Kelly’s exclusive interviews with members of the Duggar family from “19 Kids and Counting” lifted her show to its first ever No. 1 monthly finish among cable news programs in the demo, edging past “O’Reilly”).

2Q’15 VS. 2Q’14 NIELSEN NUMBERS (7 day week, L+SD):

TOTAL DAY

FNC: 974,000 total viewers – up 4% (186,000 in 25-54 – down 2%)

CNN: 431,000 total viewers – up 26% (138,000 in 25-54 – up 31%)

MSNBC: 318,000 total viewers – down 5% (85,000 in 25-54 – down 17%)


PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET

FNC: 1,603,000 total viewers – up 1% (301,000 in 25-54 – up 14%)

CNN: 560,000 total viewers – up 22% (195,000 in 25-54 – up 25%)

MSNBC: 512,000 total viewers – down 10% (130,000 in 25-54 – down 18%)


PRIMETIME: 7-11PM/ET

FNC: 1,547,000 total viewers – up 2% (281,000 in 25-54 – up 12%)

CNN: 552,000 total viewers – up 24% (189,000 in 25-54 – up 28%)

MSNBC: 518,000 total viewers – down 11% (125,000 in 25-54 – down 19%)