Cable Ratings: Fox News Channel Most-Watched In April

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished April of 2022 as cable’s most-watched network in primetime and total day viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. 

FNC surpassed CNN and MSNBC combined across the board, outpacing the competition in total day viewers, the key 25-54 demographic and in the A18-49 younger demo. FNC also ranked number one in all of basic cable in total day viewers for the 14th month in a row and notched 66 of the top 100 cable telecasts. 

Notably, FNC was the only cable news network to post gains versus April of 2021 in total viewers, while CNN and MSNBC experienced double digit declines across the board in all categories. In total day, FNC delivered 1.5 million viewers, 248,000 with the A25-54 demographic and 153,000 with A18-49. In primetime, FNC netted 2.4 million viewers, 364,000 in the 25-54 demo, and 222,000 with A18-49. Additionally, FNC’s cable news audience share increased to 55 percent across total day and primetime viewers. The network also delivered the top 12 programs in cable news with viewers and the top 14 programs in the younger 25-54 demo. Additionally, since the start of the war in Ukraine, FNC has remained the go-to destination for breaking news coverage, earning double digit advantages over CNN and widening to triple digits over MSNBC across the board.

Graphic Courtesy of RoadMN 

At 8 PM/ET, Tucker Carlson Tonight continued as the highest-rated program in cable news in the younger 25-54 demo, averaging 3.4 million viewers and 560,000 in the demo, as well as 342,000 in the 18-49 category throughout April. Hannity at 9 PM/ET scored 2.9 million viewers, 450,000 in A25-54 and 267,000 among adults 18-49, topping MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show and CNN combined in both categories. Hannity also notched a historic television milestone this past month, becoming the longest-running cable news host in primetime. At 10 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle’s Laura Ingraham remained the most-watched female in cable news, garnering 2.3 million viewers, 357,000 in the 25-54 demo and 212,000 in 18-49, while MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show experienced its lowest-rated month in the demo since November 2015.

At 5 PM/ET, FNC’s late afternoon offering The Five continued to make television history, earning the top-rated spot in viewers for the month and finishing the last four out of five months leading cable news. The roundtable program averaged 3.5 million viewers and 510,000 with A25-54, outpacing every show on CNN and MSNBC across the board. Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET) averaged 2.6 million viewers and 396,000 in A25-54, dominating its timeslot and rounding out the top five spots in both viewers and in the demo for the month of April. At 7 PM/ET, FNC’s newly-launched Jesse Watters Primetime finished April as the third highest-rated cable news program, averaging 2.9 million viewers and 426,000 in A25-54, finishing the month as the fastest-growing program in cable news. On MSNBC during the same hour, The ReidOut notched its lowest-rated month in history across both categories. At 12 AM/ET, FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream surpassed the competition, delivering over 1 million viewers and 210,000 in A25-54.

FNC’s late night program, Gutfeld!, marked its one year anniversary since launch and continued as the second most-watched late night host in all of broadcast and cable. Airing at 11 PM/ET, the program also topped every show on CNN and MSNBC in total viewers and the younger 25-54 demo. Gutfeld! averaged nearly 2 million viewers 340,000 with A25-54 this month, outpacing ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in total viewers. Additionally, the program surpassed CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on several occasions in viewers throughout the month. FNC’s late night show also topped Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and TBS’ Full Frontal with Samantha Bee across the board in total viewers and the younger 25-54 demo. Gutfeld! has the highest median income in all of late night television (ABC, CBS and NBC) in the younger 25-54 demo as well as the most upscale audience in total viewers and A25-54.


APRIL 2022 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:

• Total Viewers: The Five (3,494,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (3,389,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (2,924,000), Hannity (2,886,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (2,598,000)
• Adults 25-54: Tucker Carlson Tonight (560,000), The Five (510,000), Hannity (450,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (426,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (396,000)