TV Ratings: Fox News Remains No. 1 In Cable News

With Nielsen live plus same day data for last week officially in, the big three cable news networks–Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNN viewers from the prior week. Plus, Fox News has retained its usual position as the top-rated cable news network in total viewers and among Adults 25-54, TV Newser reports.

In primetime, Fox News Channel averaged 1.83 million total viewers for the week, No. 1 on basic cable, and 195,000 A25-54 viewers is No. 6 on basic cable. The network’s 1.83 million total primetime viewer average for the week is -6% from what the network averaged the previous week, while its 195,000 A25-54 average in primetime is -11% from the previous week. The week-to-week decline was expected, as the previous week’s solid ratings performance was powered in primetime by the Thursday, Dec. 7 Ron DeSantis-Gavin Newsom debate on Hannity.

In total day viewing, FNC averaged more than 1.19 million total viewers, No. 1 on all of basic cable, and 133,000 A25-54 viewers, No. 4 on all of basic cable behind ESPN (294,000), Hallmark (148,000) and TNT (136,000). The 1.19 million and 133,000 are +1% and -2%, respectively, from what Fox averaged in those measurements the week prior.

MSNBC averaged more than 1.21 million total primetime viewers for the week of Dec. 4. That’s No. 3 on all of basic cable (behind FNC and ESPN), and a solid +7% bump from the week prior. In addition, MSNBC averaged 108,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime for the week, No. 22 on all of basic cable, ahead of CNN and +15% from the week prior. The network’s primetime ratings bump can be attributed to the Rachel Maddow-Liz Cheney interview on TRMS, which drew more than 3.1 million viewers at 9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4.

Elsewhere, CNN averaged 471,000 total viewers and 100,000 Adults 25-54 in primetime this past week, -6% and -12% respectively, from what the network averaged in those categories the week before.  The 471,000 total primetime viewer average places CNN at No. 15 on all of basic cable for the week (tied with FX), and the 100,000 A25-54 primetime viewer average for the week is No. 24 on all of basic cable.

Additionally, NewsNation experienced its most-watched week in primetime in the network’s nearly three-year history, averaging 288,000 total viewers, a +172% improvement from the week prior. The network’s first-ever GOP presidential primary debate delivered the upstart cable news network the largest audience for a single broadcast in its history with nearly 1.6 million viewers; among adults 25 to 54, the event was watched by more than 350,000 viewers, according to Nielsen. Obviously a great week for NewsNation, but can it continue to grow heading into 2024, an election year? Remains to be seen.

Fox News had seven of the 10 most-watched daily cable news shows for the week, including each of the top six. The Five led the way, averaging more than 2.78 million viewers at 5 p.m.

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David Muir, Norah O'Donnell, Lester Holt

“World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 newscast on all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (7.809 million), Adults 25-54 (1.049 million) and Adults 18-49 (720,000) during the week of Dec. 4, 2023, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (6.709 million, 1.022 million and 668,000, respectively) by 1.100 million Total Viewers, by 27,000 Adults 25-54 and by 52,000 Adults 18-49.

“World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 2 program of the week in Total Viewers (7.809 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports).

“World News Tonight” has won the last 262 of 263 weeks in Total Viewers and 191 of the last 193 in Adults 25-54.

“World News Tonight” is ranking No. 1 in Adults 25-54 and Adults 18-49 for the 5th consecutive season. “World News Tonight” is leading NBC in Adults 25-54 (+54,000 – 1.118 million vs. 1.064 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+46,000 – 768,000 vs. 722,000). In addition, “World News Tonight” is leading “CBS Evening News” (687,000 and 459,000, respectively) by 431,000 Adults 25-54 and by 309,000 Adults 18-49.

For the week, “World News Tonight” (7.809 million, 1.049 million and 720,000, respectively) defeated “CBS Evening News” (4.782 million, 644,000 and 422,000, respectively) by 3.027 Total Viewers, by 405,000 Adults 25-54 and by 298,000 Adults 18-49.

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Ranking is based on ratings data as of Thursday, December 7, 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.