Fox News Channel Most-Watched Cable Network In July

• FNC’s New Primetime Lineup Finishes Month as the Highest-Rated in All of Cable, Crushes the Competition by Double and Triple-Digits in Every Hour From 7-11 PM/ET
• “The Five” Reigns Supreme as Most-Watched Program in Cable News
• “Jesse Watters Primetime” Marks Highest Viewership Across Primetime
• FNC’s Audience Share Increases to 45% of Cable News Audience
• Only Network to Post Growth in Total Viewership Month-Over-Month
• FNC Notches 92 of the Top 100 Telecasts in Cable News for July

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished July 2023 as cable television’s most-watched network across both primetime and total day viewership and #2 in the 25-54 demo with total day behind ESPN, according to Nielsen Media Research. 

In terms of cable news, FNC marked 29 consecutive months defeating the competition in total day and primetime total viewers, while nearly besting CNN and MSNBC combined with primetime viewers. FNC also notched 92 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the month. In total day, FNC delivered 1.1 million viewers and 122,000 in the 25-54 demo. In primetime from 7-11PM/ET, FNC netted 1.6 million viewers and 147,000 in the 25-54 demo. The network secured the top six programs in cable news with viewers and the top nine cable news shows in the 25-54 demo. Month over month, FNC is the only network to post growth in total viewers (+5%), while CNN and MSNBC were both down across the board.

Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN

Attracting 45% of cable news viewers across primetime and in total day, FNC continued to lead the genre’s audience share and increased in all categories versus June. According to Nielsen MRI-Simmons Fusion, FNC is the number one cable network with Democrats, Republicans and Independents with the 25-54 demo. Additionally, a recently published Politico/Ipsos poll of over 1000 registered voters found FNC to be the top news source in television. Among cable news networks, nearly half of respondents (47%) claim FNC as their main source of news, more than CNN (27%) and MSNBC (17%) combined.

FNC’s new weekday primetime lineup which debuted on Monday, July 17th, beat the cable news competition across the board with viewers and the younger A25-54 demo. From 7-11 PM/ET, FNC averaged 2,160,000 viewers and 211,000 in A25-54, sweeping CNN and MSNBC in all categories, winning combined in total viewers and more than tripling CNN in overall viewership. Finishing the month as the highest-rated primetime lineup in all of cable, FNC is the only cable network to average over 1.5 million viewers in primetime. Notably, the new primetime lineup increased FNC’s share of the cable news audience versus the prior month from 41% to 48% in total viewers and from 34% to 42% with A25-54. The network’s new primetime lineup posted double digit increase over FNC’s average from April 24-July 14th, (+26% P2+) and (+29% A25-54), and also increased versus the week prior to launch posting +21% and +33% gains in viewers and A25-54, respectively. Compared to June 2023 average, FNC’s primetime is also is up 20% in viewers and 19% in A25-54.

Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN

Kicking off the new lineup at 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle garnered 1,926,000 million viewers and 174,000 in the 25-54 demo, continuing host Laura Ingraham’s streak as the most-watched woman in cable news. Following at 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime garnered 2,403,000 viewers and 207,000 with A25-54, making it the highest-rated program in primetime viewers and second overall behind only The Five. The program grew the timeslot nearly 50% versus the prior month and posted double and triple digit advantages over the competition on CNN and MSNBC.

FNC’s Hannity which remained at 9 PM/ET scored 2,161,000 viewers, 201,000 in the 25-54 demo, achieving the third most-watched program in all categories, outpacing the competition on MSNBC and CNN combined with total viewers. Comparatively, CNN’s newly launched The Source with Kaitlan Collins averaged just 558,000 viewers and 109,000 with A25-54 at 9 PM/ET. Gutfeld!’s 10 PM/ET premiere delivered 1,983,000 viewers and 252,000 in A25-54, making the show the most-watched among primetime demo viewers. Wrapping up the night, FOX News @ Night, anchored by Trace Gallagher in it’s new 11 PM/ET timeslot, surpassed the competition, delivering 983,000 viewers and 136,000 with A25-54.