TV Ratings: Fox News Remains Tops

With Nielsen live plus same day data for last week officially in, the big three cable news networks–Fox News Channel, MSNBC and CNN– shed viewers from the prior week, reports TV Newswr.. Still, Fox News retained its regular position as the top-rated cable news network in total viewers and among Adults 25-54 – averaging a larger total primetime audience than its two main competitors combined for the fifth consecutive week.

In primetime, Fox News Channel averaged 1.75 million total viewers for the week (No. 1 on basic cable) and 175,000 A25-54 viewers (No. 10 on basic cable). However, the network’s 1.75 million total primetime viewer average for the week is -4% from what the network averaged the previous week (Dec. 4), while its 175,000 A25-54 average in primetime is -10% from the previous week.

In total day viewing, FNC averaged more than 1.16 million total viewers (No. 1 on all of basic cable), and 124,000 A25-54 viewers (No. 5 on all of basic cable). The 1.16 million and 124,000 are -3% and -7%, respectively, from what Fox averaged in those measurements the week prior.

MSNBC averaged more than 1.11 million total primetime viewers for the week of Dec. 11. That’s down to No. 5 on all of basic cable (behind FNC, ESPN, NFL Network and Hallmark), and an -8% drop from the week prior. In addition, MSNBC averaged 98,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime for the week (No. 23 on all of basic cable), which is +4,000 ahead of CNN but -9% from the week prior.

Changing channels, CNN averaged 458,000 total viewers and 94,000 Adults 25-54 in primetime this past week, -3% and -6% respectively, from what the network averaged in those measurements the week before.  The 458,000 total primetime viewer average places CNN at No. 16 on all of basic cable for the week, and the 94,000 A25-54 primetime viewer average for the week is No. 26 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 cable news yet again, averaging nearly 2.77 million viewers at 5 p.m.

Jesse Watters Primetime (2.39 million at 8 p.m.), finished in second place, with Hannity (2.13 million at 9 p.m.) Special Report with Bret Baier (2.06 million at 6 p.m.) and The Ingraham Angle ( two million at 7 p.m.) rounding out the top five.

Fox News also boasts 11 of the top 15 cable news shows of the week among Adults 25-54, including each of the top 10. Gutfeld! and The Five tied for No. 1 on cable news among Adults 25-54 (239,000). Hannity (207,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (205,000) and Special Report (179,000) follow.

MSNBC’s 6 p.m. offering The Beat with Ari Melber is the most-watched non-Fox cable news hour for the week, coming in at No. 8 with a 1.53 million total viewer average in the hour. The Beat is also the top-rated non-Fox cable news show in the A25-54 demo, finishing No. 11 finished this past week with a 134,000 average in the measurement at 6 p.m.; down substantially from the week prior (161,000).

📺BROADCAST TV EVENING NEWS

“World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program of the week in Total Viewers (7.688 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of Dec. 11, 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 (7.688 million), Adults 25-54 (1.008 million) and Adults 18-49 (683,000). “World News Tonight” outdelivered “NBC Nightly News” (6.657 million, 956,000 and 655,000, respectively) by 1.031 million Total Viewers, by 52,000 Adults 25-54 and by 28,000 Adults 18-49.

Season to date, “World News Tonight” (7.877 million) is ranking No. 1 in Total Viewers for the 8th straight year, based on Most Current Data. “World News Tonight” is leading “NBC Nightly News” (6.791 million) by 1.086 million and “CBS Evening News” (4.803 million) by 3.074 million.

“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 – 1.110 million vs. 1.056 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+45,000 – 762,000 vs. 717,000). In addition, “World News Tonight” is leading “CBS Evening News” (683,000 and 459,000, respectively) by 427,000 Adults 25-54 and by 303,000 Adults 18-49.

For the week, “World News Tonight” (7.688 million, 1.008 million and 683,000, respectively) defeated “CBS Evening News” (4.712 million, 643,000 and 459,000, respectively) by 2.976 Total Viewers, by 365,000 Adults 25-54 and by 224,000 Adults 18-49.

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Ranking is based on ratings data as of Thursday, December 14, 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.