FOX News Channel Still Highest-Rated Cable Network on TV

FOX News Channel (FNC) remained cable television’s most-watched network for the eighth consecutive year in 2023, according to data from Nielsen Media Research. 

Through the continued dominance of the hit program The Five, the launch of FNC’s new primetime lineup, coupled with the success of its daytime programming, the network maintained its number one spot in cable news. Additionally, the network had the largest share of the audience in total day (46%) and primetime (48%), capturing nearly half of the cable news landscape. In primetime, FNC delivered nearly 2 million viewers and 214,000 in 25-54 demo, topping CNN and MSNBC combined in total viewership. On a 24-hour total day basis, FNC averaged over 1.2 million viewers and 150,000 in 25-54, with a 153% advantage over CNN in viewers. FNC continued to sweep the competition, winning every hour in the 25-54 demo, as CNN marked the network’s lowest-rated year of all time, the second year in a row with a historic low. Additionally, MSNBC delivered its least-watched year in the primetime demo since 1999.

In commenting on the ratings, FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott said, “During yet another unprecedented news cycle, cable viewers continued to choose FOX News Channel. From moderating debates to reporting in war zones and many stories in between, I am honored to work alongside this unrivaled team of journalists and opinion hosts as they continue to exceed expectations.”

This year, FNC notched the top six most-watched cable news programs (The Five, Jesse Watters Primetime, Hannity, Special Report with Bret Baier, The Ingraham Angle and Gutfeld!). The network also garnered 13 out of the 15 highest-rated programs in cable news in the 25-54 demo, including The Five, Hannity, Gutfeld!, Jesse Watters Primetime, The Ingraham Angle, Special Report with Bret Baier, Outnumbered, The Faulkner Focus, America’s Newsroom, FOX News @ Night, America Reports, Your World with Neil Cavuto and The Story. FNC also had 12 of the top 15 rated shows in the 18-49 demo.

Additionally, the first Republican primary debate in August co-moderated by Special Report’s Bret Baier and The Story’s Martha MacCallum, was the most watched telecast of the year, averaging nearly 13 million viewers and 2,815,000 in the 25-54 demo, topping more than 70% of all presidential primary debates in the last two cycles (2016 and 2020). The second Republican Primary Debate, hosted by FOX Business Network and co-moderated by America’s Newsroom’s Dana Perino and FBN’s Varney & Co.’s Stuart Varney, averaged 9.5 million viewers and nearly 2 million in the 25-54 demo, with nearly 7 million viewers on FNC and over 1 million in the 25-54 demo.

FNC’s continuous breaking news coverage of the Israel-Hamas war has remained the highest-rated in cable news since the war began on October 7th. Delivering 1,261,000 viewers and 155,000 with 25-54 demo in total day and 1,936,000 viewers and 226,000 with 25-54 demo in primetime, the network saw a double- and triple-digit advantage over CNN’s 521,000 viewers and 104,000 25-54 demo for total day and 611,000 viewers and 139,000 25-54 demo in primetime.

For the first time in television history, a non-primetime cable program finished first in the 25-54 demo and notched its second consecutive year as cable’s highest-rated in total viewers as The Five continued to smash ratings records. FNC’s late afternoon program (weekdays, 5 PM/ET) drew cable news’ largest audience in viewers and the 25-54 demo, averaging 2.9 million viewers and 303,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s new primetime lineup crushed the cable news competition, kicking off with Laura Ingraham dominating the 7 PM/ET timeslot with 2 million viewers and 220,000 in 25-54 demo. At 8PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime (2.5 million P2+; 255,000 25-54) was the second most-watched cable news program in viewers and Hannity (weekdays at 9 PM/ET) drew the third largest audience with viewers and second in the 25-54 demo, delivering 2.4 million viewers and 271,000 in 25-54 demo. Notably, Sean Hannity’s DeSantis vs. Newsom: The Great Red State vs. Blue State Debate on November 30th netted over 5.5 million viewers and over one million in the 25-54 demo, with East and West Coast airings, making it the top-rated regularly scheduled telecast in the hour for the year.

FNC’s runaway late-night hit Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) soared past the cable and broadcast competition, averaging 1.9 million viewers and 268,000 in 25-54 demo. Gutfeld! continued to disrupt the late-night landscape, outpacing broadcast shows CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and beating all of cable late night in viewers, 25-54 demo and the younger A18-49 demo. In cable news, Gutfeld! was the third most-watched show in the younger demo and dominated its timeslot.