Fox News Channel Dominates CNN and MSNBC During February

FOX News Channel continued its ratings dominance for the month of February, notching 37 months atop primetime and 36 months in total day viewership; scoring its highest-rated month since October 2023.

 

FNC closed out February with 96 of the top 100 cable news telecasts for the month, while the competition on CNN netted zero and MSNBC garnered just four. FNC was cable television’s most-watched across total day viewership and primetime and second in primetime 25-54 demo, behind only ESPN. 

Additionally, FNC continued to deliver month-over-month growth across its primetime audience in total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research. FNC showed monthly growth, rising 8% in total day and 5% in primetime with 25-54 demo. Furthermore, the network continued to expand its audience share, occupying more than half the audience in total day and primetime viewers while also attracting the largest and most politically diverse audience, with more Independent viewers in both total day and primetime than CNN and MSNBC, according to MRI Fusion.

The network continued to trounce the competition across the board, posting a 179% advantage over CNN in total day viewers and 260% in primetime viewership. In total day, FNC nabbed 1.3 million viewers and 161,000 in the 25-54 demo and was the only cable news network to deliver over 1 million viewers in total day. FNC nearly tripled CNN (479,000) and beat CNN and MSNBC (852,000) combined in viewership. In primetime from 7-11 PM/ET, FNC netted over 2 million viewers and 222,000 in the 25-54 demo, again crushing CNN (601,000) and MSNBC (1.3 million) combined in total viewership. Throughout February, FNC secured the top six programs in cable news with viewers and the top 13 cable news shows in the 25-54 demo. Every FNC weekday program won across the board in both total viewers and 25-54.

FNC’s The Five, which has been the number one show in cable news for over nine consecutive quarters, continued its streak with total viewers, securing 3.1 million viewers and 283,000 with 25-54 demo. Evening newscast Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET), named the most reliable program in cable news according to Ad Fontes, averaged 2.3 million viewers and 220,000 in the 25-54 demo. This month, Baier presented an exclusive interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the first from the front lines of the war in Ukraine.

At 10 PM/ET Gutfeld!, which is the most “DVR’d” show in cable news among younger 25-54 demo viewers, made its mark as the highest-rated program among both younger 25-54 and 18-49 demos. Gutfeld delivered 2.2 million viewers and 325,000 in 25-54 demo and 203,000 in 18-49 demo. Gutfeld! has notably remained the most watched program in broadcast and cable among the competition, beating The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers and CBS’ After Midnight with total viewership. With the return of the much touted The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Gutfeld topped Stewart each week by double- and triple-digit percentages.

Leading FNC’s primetime lineup at 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle garnered 2.3 million viewers and 222,000 in the 25-54 demo. Following at 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 2.8 million viewers, 269,000 with 25-54 demo and 184,000 in 18-49, making it the highest-rated program in primetime among viewers. FNC’s Hannity (9 PM/ET) scored 2.4 million viewers and 248,000 in the 25-54 demo, outpacing the competition on MSNBC and CNN in both categories. Wrapping up the night, FOX News @ Night, anchored by Trace Gallagher in its 11 PM/ET timeslot, delivered 1.3 million viewers and 195,000 with A25-54.

From 5-6 AM/ET, FOX & Friends First delivered 569,000 viewers while FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends (weekdays, 6-9 AM/ET) finished February with over 1.1 million viewers and 151,000 in the demo, notching 36 consecutive months atop the 25-54 demo. FNC’s daytime lineup, kicking off with two-hour morning news program, America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET), drew 1.6 million viewers and 196,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, also attracted 1.6 million viewers and 205,000 in the 25-54 demo and bested CNN and MSNBC across the board. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered earned 1.7 million viewers and saw 209,000 in the 25-54 demo. 

FNC’s Outnumbered continues to outpace the broadcast competition, beating both NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show and CBS’ The Drew Barrymore Show with total viewers. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith garnered 1.6 million viewers and 178,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 3 PM/ET, anchor and executive editor Martha MacCallum’s The Story averaged 1.5 million viewers and 169,000 in the 25-54 demo, while Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4 PM/ET nabbed 1.5 million viewers and 167,000 in the 25-54 category for the month.

FEBRUARY 2024 RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:

• Total Viewers: The Five (3,109,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (2,806,000), Hannity (2,362,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,294,000), Special Report (2,292,000),
• Adults 25-54: Gutfeld! (325,000), The Five (283,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (269,000), Hannity (248,000), The Ingraham Angle (222,000)

Source: Nielsen. Live+SD. Feb-24 monthly ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks M-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54, P18-49. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages exclude repeats/specials and include the corresponding program name.