TV Ratings: Terror News Dominated The Week

The week of October 9, 2023, the first full week of the Israel-Hamas war and corresponding wall-to-wall TV news coverage, saw Fox News expand its already-commanding ratings lead over the competition, and CNN continue to show notable growth, particularly in the key Adults 25-54 demo.

TV Newser cites Nielsen live plus same day data for the week of Oct. 9, 2023 which shows Fox News Channel remained in its usual position as the top-rated cable news network in total viewers and among Adults 25-54.

Fox News ranked No. 1 on all of basic cable in total primetime viewers (this time ahead of ESPN), with a 2.245 million total viewer average, and No. 3 in the primetime demo (behind football-carrying ESPN and MLB playoffs-carrying TBS) with a 286,000 A25-54 average. That’s +10% and +24%, respectively, from what the network averaged the previous week (Oct. 2, 2023) in those key measurements.

In total day viewing, FNC averaged 1.59 million total viewers and 220,000 A25-54 viewers, +22% and +42%, respectively, from the week prior. The 1.59 million total viewer average is No. 1 on all of basic cable, while the 220,000 A25-54 average in total day is No. 3 on all of basic cable.

Turning to MSNBC, the NBCU-owned politics-focused cable newser isn’t riding the Israel-Hamas war coverage wave like its news outlet competitors are. The network averaged 1.10 million viewers and 122,000 Adults 25-54 in primetime, -26% and -20% respectively, from what the network averaged the previous week.  

Like Fox News, CNN continues to benefit, ratings-wise, from its live, on-the-ground coverage of the war. The network averaged 810,000 total viewers and 196,000 Adults 25-54 in primetime this past week, growth of +4% and +26% respectively, from what the network averaged the previous week (Oct. 2). The 810,000 total primetime viewer average is No. 6 on all of basic cable, and the 196,000 A25-54 primetime viewer average for the week is also No. 6 on all of basic cable.

In total day, CNN averaged 688,000 total viewers (the smallest gap with MSNBC in months) and 151,000 A25-54 viewers, +13% and +28%, respectively, from the week prior. The 688,000 total viewer average is No. 4 on all of basic cable, while the 151,000 A25-54 average is No. 4 on all of basic cable.

Graphic Courtesy of RoadMN (w/permission)

The Five remained No. 1 in total viewers, averaging 3.34 million total viewers at 5 p.m., and improved to No. 1 among Adults 25-54 (375,000 viewers).

Fox News had the 11 most-watched daily cable news offerings for the week of Oct. 9. Jesse Watters Primetime secured second place among all daily cable news shows with a 2.83 million total viewer average at 8 p.m. Special Report with Bret Baier moved up to No. 3 (2.54 million at 6 p.m.), with Hannity (2.52 million at 9 and 10 p.m.), and The Ingraham Angle averaging 2.44 million at 7 p.m.

Gutfeld! did not air this past week, and Hannity received a second hour (10 p.m.).

MSNBC’s The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell is the most-watched non-Fox News cable news show of the week, coming in at No. 12 with a 1.42 million viewer average at 10 p.m.

A busy news week dominated by the war between Israel, and the Islamist militant group Hamas has kept CBS News’ newsmagazine show 60 Minutes as the No. 1 non-sports primetime program for the fifth straight week.

TV Newser reports 60 Minutes delivered 7.3 million total viewers, according to Nielsen live plus same-day ratings for Sunday, Oct. 15. The news show, which was heavy on the conflict in the Middle East, featured Scott Pelley‘s interview with President Joe Biden on Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine, along with Lesley Stahl‘s report from Israel on a family’s rescue effort at kibbutz Nahal Oz, one of the first places infiltrated by Hamas.

Overall, 60 Minutes was the No. 6 primetime broadcast for the week, and considering it was a non-doubleheader week on CBS Sports shows the newsmagazine does not need the pull of the NFL to remain on top.

📺BROADCAST NETWORK NEWS

ABC's David Muir, CBS' Norah O'Donnel, NBC's Lester Holt

ABC News, NBC News and CBS News dispatched their respective evening news anchors to Israel last week to cover one of the most significant global conflicts in recent years.

Per live plus same day data from Nielsen, TV Newser reports ABC World News Tonight with David Muir averaged 7.51 million total viewers (No. 1 across broadcast and cable TV) and 1.125 million A25-54 viewers for the Tuesday through Thursday portion of this past week. That’s -0.5% in total viewers and +1% in A25-54 viewers from the previous week (which was rated on four days, excluding Monday). 

NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt trended in a more positive direction than its ABC competition. The newscast drew an average of 1.12 million A25-54 viewers this past Monday through Friday, its largest A25-54 audience since February. That’s also an impressive +15% from what the newscast averaged the week earlier (week of Oct. 2), and a solid +8% from the year-ago week.

Changing channels, The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell averaged 4.805 million total viewers and 703,000 Adults 25-54 for the week of Oct. 9. That’s up +3% in total viewers and a solid +6% in A25-54 viewers from the previous week.