FNC Tops CableTV News In 2017

Donald Trump continued to be good news for cable news networks in 2017. Beneficiaries include both the network he likes (Fox News Channel) and those he hates/threatens (everyone else), according to Deadline.Hollywood.

Fox News Channel finished the calendar year as the most watched basic cable network in both primetime (2.424M viewers) and total day (1.500M) for a second consecutive year. In total day, 2017 was FNC’s most watched year in its history. In primetime, Sean Hannity’s show was cable news viewers fave, clocking nearly 3.2 million viewers each night.

FNC also dominated in the news demo, 25-54, clocking 488K viewers in primetime and 321K in total day.

FNC tallied 15 of the Top 20 cable news programs in total viewers for the year, and 12 of the top 20 programs with A25-54. And Hannity’s show tied Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC program for the year’s top spot among cable programs in the younger 18-49 demographic – 417K viewers. FNC’s Tucker Carlson Tonight (355K) bested CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 (335K) in the younger demo.

MSNBC finishes 2017 ranked No. 3 in primetime (1.632M) among cable networks, behind only FNC and ESPN (1.92M). In total day MSNBC ranks No. 3, (889K), behind only FNC and Nickelodeon (1.123M). Again in 2017, Rachel Maddow’s program was the network’s biggest ratings getter, despite this year’s Hannity competition, averaging 2.539M viewers and 585K in the news demo.

MSNBC boasts the most impressive year-to-year gains, topped by primetime’s total-viewer pop of 51%, and 37% in the demo. Total day-wise, MSNBC jumped 47% in total viewers and 33% in the news age bracket.

For CNN, 2017 was its highest rated on record in total day. Here, CNN ranks No. 5 among basic cable networks, with an average of 783K viewers – CNN’s first time in the Top 10 since 1995. In primetime, CNN ranked No. 10 among cable nets with an average of 1.062M.

MSNBC bested CNN for primetime in total viewers, but they’re neck and neck, with 371K viewers apiece, in the news demo. In total day, MSNBC outstrips CNN, but CNN trounced MSNBC in the demo (257K to 203K, respectively).

CNN notes it’s audience was younger than its cable news competitors in 2017. In total day, the median age of the CNN viewer (60 years)  is five years younger than FNCs and MSNBC (65). Yes, FNC’s median age is the same as MSNBC’s in total day for 2017.

In prime time, CNN logged a median age (59)  that’s seven years younger than FNC (66) and six years younger than MSNBC (65).