TV Ratings: Debate Gives Fox News Extra Margin

With Nielsen live plus same day data for last week officially in, the big three cable news networks–Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNN–all gained viewers from the prior week reports TV Newser. 

Plus, Fox News retains its usual position as the top-rated cable news network in total viewers and among Adults 25-54, with lower-than-usual ratings Thursday night, powered by Sean Hannity‘s live primetime debate featuring Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In total day viewing, FNC averaged 1.185 million total viewers, No. 1 on all of basic cable, and 136,000 A25-54 viewers, No. 3 on all of basic cable behind ESPN (334,000) and Hallmark (159,000). The 1.185 million and 136,000 are +19% and +11%, respectively, from what Fox averaged in those measurements the week prior (Thanksgiving holiday week).

In primetime, Fox News averaged 1.95 million total viewers for the week, No. 1 on basic cable, and 218,000 A25-54 viewers is No. 6 on basic cable. The network’s 1.95 million total primetime viewer average for the week is up +47% from what the network averaged the previous week, while its 218,000 A25-54 average in primetime is +44% from the previous week.

Changing channels, MSNBC averaged more than 1.13 million total primetime viewers for the week of Nov. 27, No. 4 on all of basic cable (behind FNC, ESPN and Hallmark), and up +42% from the week prior. In addition, the network averaged 94,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime for the week, No. 26 on all of basic cable and +36% from the week prior. That said, the 94,000 primetime demo average is MSNBC’s smallest average in the measurement year to-date (among all non-holiday weeks).

Elsewhere, CNN averaged 503,000 total viewers and 113,000 Adults 25-54 in primetime this past week, +22% and +36% respectively, from what the network averaged in those categories on Thanksgiving holiday week.  The 503,000 total primetime viewer average places CNN at No. 15 on all of basic cable for the week, and the 113,000 A25-54 primetime viewer average for the week is No. 19 on all of basic cable.

Fox News had nine of the 10 most-watched daily cable news shows for the week, including each of the top seven. The Five led the way, edging Hannity 2.77 million at 5 p.m. to 2.75 million at 9 p.m.

Hannity was followed by by Jesse Watters Primetime ( 2.38 million at 8 p.m.), Special Report with Bret Baier ( 2.05 million at 6 p.m.) and The Ingraham Angle ( 1.98 million at 7 p.m.) rounding out the top five.

Fox News also boasts 13 of the top 15 cable news shows of the week among Adults 25-54, including each of the top 10. Thanks to the DeSantis-Newsom debate broadcast, Hannity is No. 1 for the week in the key demo (356,000), followed by Gutfeld! (245,000), The Five (228,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (217,000) and Outnumbered (188,000 at 12 p.m.) rounding out the top five.

• MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber is the most-watched non-Fox News cable news offering for the week, coming in at No. 8 with a 1.5 million total viewer average at 6 p.m.
• CNN’s Erin Burnett Outfront is the top-rated non-Fox News cable news show in the A25-54 demo. It finished No. 13 this past week with a 146,000 average in the measurement at 7 p.m.

📺TOP 20 TV SHOW RATINGS

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Thursday, November 30, 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 TV NEWSCASTS

“World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program of the week in Total Viewers (8.452 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of Nov. 27, 2023, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research.

“World News Tonight” ranked as the No. 1 newscast on all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (8.452 million), Adults 25-54 (1.183 million) and Adults 18-49(810,000). “World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (7.075 million, 1.066 million and 716,000, respectively) by 1.377 million Total Viewers, by 117,000 Adults 25-54 and by 94,000 Adults 18-49.

“World News Tonight” increased its advantage over “NBC Nightly News” versus the previous week in Total Viewers (+160% -1.377 million vs. 529,000), Adults 25-54 (+266% – 117,000 vs. 32,000) and Adults 18-49 (+13% – 94,000 vs. 83,000).

“World News Tonight” widened its lead “NBC Nightly News” year-to-year in Total Viewers (+240% -1.377 million vs. 405,000) and Adults 18-49 (+71% – 94,000 vs. 55,000).

“World News Tonight” posted gains on the previous week in Total Viewers(+3%/275,000 – 8.452 million vs. 8.117 million) and Adults 25-54 (+5%/+58,000 – 1.183 million vs. 1.125 million), hitting season highs in both measures. In fact, “World News Tonight” drew its largest overall audience in 10 months — since w/o 1/30/23.