TV Ratings: ‘World News Tonight' No.1 Program

Fox News, MSNBC and CNN saw substantial week-to-week ratings growth, driven by special event programming. For example, the Fox News-Donald Trump town hall moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum on Jan. 10 was the most-watched cable news telecast of the week (4.4 million viewers), while CNN’s primetime GOP debate featuring Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley delivered the network a larger-than-usual audience (2.62 million viewers; 541,000 A25-54 viewers).

TV Newser reports Nielsen live plus same day data for the week of Jan. 8 is officially in, and Fox News Channel retained its regular position as the top-rated cable news network in total viewers and among Adults 25-54.

In primetime, FNC averaged two million total viewers and 217,000 A25-54 viewers, up +22% and +33%, respectively, relative to the week prior (week beginning Jan. 1). In addition to being an improvement from the week prior, Fox’s two million viewer average is more than CNN and MSNBC’s combined total viewer average in the daypart.

In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.26 million total viewers and 150,000 A25-54 viewers,  +11% and +16%, respectively, from what Fox averaged in those measurements the week prior.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News ranks No. 2 in total primetime viewers (only behind ESPN and its highly-rated live CFP National Championship broadcast), moved up five spots to No. 5 in the primetime demo (tied with Bravo), improved to No. 1 in total day viewers, and No. 2 in the total day demo for the week of Jan. 8, 2024.

MSNBC saw its audience return after a couple low-rated weeks. In primetime, the network averaged more than 1.18 million total viewers and 113,000 viewers from the A25-54 demo during the week of Jan. 8. That’s +34% and +45%, respectively, from what the network averaged in those measurements the week prior. In total day, MSNBC averaged 831,000 total viewers and 81,000 A25-54 viewers for the week of Jan. 8. That’s +24% and +31%, respectively, from what the network averaged the week before.

CNN averaged 730,000 total primetime viewers and 143,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime for the week of Jan. 1, 2024. That’s -9% and -30%, respectively, from what the network averaged in those measurements the week prior. In total day, CNN did post week-to-week gains in total viewers (+2%), but shed A25-54 viewers (-11%).

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‘World News Tonight With David Muir’ Is the #1 Program on All of U.S. Television

“World News Tonight with David Muir” stood as the No. 1 program of the week in Total Viewers (8.708 million) on all of broadcast and cable (excluding sports) during the week of Jan. 8, 2024, 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 (8.708 million), Adults 25-54 (1.138 million) and Adults 18-49 (799,000). “World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (7.277 million, 1.097 million and 742,000, respectively) by 1.431 million Total Viewers, by 41,000 Adults 25-54 and by 57,000 Adults 18-49.

“World News Tonight” grew its Total Viewer lead over “NBC Nightly News” by 20% (1.431 million vs. 1.191 million) to a season-best and its largest in 4 months — since w/o 9/11/23.

For the 3rd week in a row, “World News Tonight” grew from the previous week in Total Viewers (+4%/309,000 – 8.708 million vs. 8.399 million). In fact, “World News Tonight” turned in its most-watched week in nearly 1 year — since w/o 1/30/23.

“World News Tonight” has won the last 267 of 268 weeks in Total Viewers and 195 of the last 198 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 (+49,000 – 1.116 million vs. 1.067 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+45,000 – 772,000 vs. 727,000). In addition, “World News Tonight” is leading “CBS Evening News” (692,000 and 471,000, respectively) by 424,000 Adults 25-54 and by 301,000 Adults 18-49.

For the week, “World News Tonight” (8.708 million, 1.138 million and 799,000, respectively) defeated “CBS Evening News” (5.336 million, 781,000 and 551,000, respectively) by 3.372 Total Viewers, by 357,000 Adults 25-54 and by 248,000 Adults 18-49.

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Ranking is based on ratings data as of Thursday, January 11, 2024. 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.