TV Ratings: Fox News Retains Top Position

Fox News' Trey Yingst

With Nielsen live plus same day data for last week officially in, Fox News Channel retains its usual position as the top-rated cable news network in total viewers and among Adults 25-54, according to TV Newser.

In total day viewing, FNC averaged more than 1.26 million total viewers, No. 1 on all of basic cable, and 156,000 A25-54 viewers, No. 2 on all of basic cable, behind ESPN (370,000). The 1.26 million and 156,000 are -1% but +5%, respectively, from what Fox averaged in those measurements the week prior (week of Oct. 30, 2023).

In primetime, Fox News averaged 1.88 million total viewers for the week, No. 2 on basic cable behind only ESPN (2.095 million). The network also finished No. 2 in the key A25-54 demo (230,000), again behind only ESPN. Fox News’ 1.88 million total primetime viewer average for the week is +1% from what the network averaged the previous week, and its 230,000 A25-54 average in primetime is +13% from the week prior, with the bump in A25-54 viewers likely coming from special coverage of elections in Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi and Virginia.

Changing channels, MSNBC averaged more than 1.35 million total primetime viewers for the week of Nov. 6, No. 3 on all of basic cable, +16% from the week prior and the network’s largest average audience in more than a month. MSNBC additionally averaged 141,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime for the week, No. 15 on all of basic cable and +13% from the week prior.

Elsewhere, CNN averaged 684,000 total viewers and 169,000 Adults 25-54 in primetime this past week, +23% and +33% respectively, from what the network averaged the previous week.  The 684,000 total primetime viewer average from last week places CNN at No. 7 on all of basic cable, and the 169,000 A25-54 primetime viewer average for the week is No. 9 on all of basic cable.

Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN (w/permission)

Fox News had the six most-watched daily cable news offerings for the third consecutive week, led once again by The Five, averaging  2.92 million total viewers at 5 p.m.

Jesse Watters Primetime secured second place among all daily cable news shows in total viewers with a 2.77 million total viewer average at 8 p.m., followed by Hannity ( 2.335 million at 9 p.m.), The Ingraham Angle (2.23 million at 7 p.m.) and Special Report with Bret Baier ( 2.215 million at 6 p.m.) rounding out the top five.

MSNBC’s two-hour show Deadline: White House is the most-watched non-Fox News cable news offering for the week, coming in at No. 7 with a 1.84 million total viewer average at 4-6 p.m.

Fox News boasts 12 of the top 15 cable news shows of the week

📺TOP 20 TV SHOW RATINGS RANKER

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Wednesday, November 8, 2023. The audience figures are derived from the latest Nielsen daily, weekly, or monthly P2+ program audience averages, whichever is the most recently available within the past seven-day window.

📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWS

ABC's David Muir

“World News Tonight” ranked as the No. 1 newscast on all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (8.291 million) and Adults 25-54 (1.154 million). “World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (6.899 million and 1.079 million, respectively) by 1.392 million Total Viewers and by 75,000 Adults 25-54.

“World News Tonight” increased its advantage over “NBC Nightly News” versus the previous week in Total Viewers (+49% -1.392 million vs. 937,000) and Adults 25-54 (+29% – 75,000 vs. 58,000), posting its largest overall viewer lead in 8 weeks — since w/o 9/11/23.

 In addition, “World News Tonight” is leading “CBS Evening News” (689,000 and 455,000, respectively) by 426,000 Adults 25-54 and by 309,000 Adults 18-49.

📺COLLEGE FOOTBALL TV

Week eleven games: With controversy swirling around the program, Michigan’s win over Penn State became the latest college football game to top the nine million mark this season as 9.16 million tuned in on FOX — the sixth-largest audience of the season. Penn State’s losses to Michigan and Ohio State both rank in the top six. FOX took the top two spots in week eleven of the season as its Utah-Washington lead-out averaged 5.17 million.

Mississippi-Georgia placed third for the week with 4.83 million on ESPN, the third-largest cable audience of the season.