TV RATINGS: Another Good News Week For Fox News

Fox News had its best week of the year as the news network secured 50% of the cable news share in terms of viewers during total day and primetime. 

TV Newser citing Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of March 4 reports FNC averaged 2.604 million total viewers and 354,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. The network was up in total viewers by +24% and +50% in the A25-54 demo, relative to the week prior (week beginning Feb. 26). 

In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.461 million total viewers and 192,000 A25-54 viewers, which translated to a +7% gain in total viewers and a +18% gain in A25-54 from what Fox News averaged in those measurements the week prior. Among all basic cable networks, Fox News maintained its No. 1 position in total primetime viewers and climbed three spots from the previous week to land in the No. 2 position in the primetime demo. In total day, the network was once again the only cable network to cross one million total viewers in total day, holding its No. 1 position and remaining in the No. 2 position in the total day demo for the week of March 4, 2024.

MSNBC in primetime averaged 1.625 million total viewers and 204,000 viewers from the A25-54 demo for the week of March 4. It had a +33% gain in total viewers and a +67% gain in the A25-54 demo from what the network averaged the week prior. 

CNN averaged 761,000 total primetime viewers and 181,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime for the week of March 4. The news net was up +33% in total viewers and had a gain of +52% viewers in the A25-54 demo compared to the prior week.

Fox had 11 out of the 15 most-watched cable news shows of the week, led once again by The Five (3.174 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET). The Rachel Maddow/Alex Wagner 9 p.m. ET timeslot was MSNBC’s most-watched program at No. 8 with 1.800 million viewers. MSNBC had four of its shows in the top 15 of most-watched cable news shows.

Meanwhile, Hannity toppled Gutfeld! as the top cable news program among Adults 25-54, averaging 344,000 A25-54 viewers at 9 p.m. ET. Fox News again led the way with 12 of the top 15 cable news shows in the demo overall. MSNBC occupied the remaining spots, with the Maddow/Wagner 8 p.m. ET timeslot landing at the No. 10 spot, with 220,000 viewers. The other two MSNBC shows in the top 15 were the Jen Psaki/Chris Hayes 8 p.m. timeslot at 12 with 201,000 viewers and The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell at 10 p.m. ET at 15 with 176,000 viewers.

📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWS

David Muir, Lester Holt, Norah O'Donnell

“World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 newscast on all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (7.787 million), Adults 25-54 (1.101 million) and Adults 18-49 (755,000) during the week of March 4, 2024, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (6.376 million, 918,000 and 596,000, respectively) by 1.411 million Total Viewers, by 183,000 Adults 25-54 and by 159,000 Adults 18-49, respectively.

David Muir anchored the broadcast from Washington, D.C., on Thursday, March 7, to cover President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. The network’s primetime coverage anchored that night by Muir led all broadcast networks in Total Viewers. Also, Super Tuesday special coverage anchored by Muir ranked No. 1 for the 3rd straight year vs. all broadcast networks.

“World News Tonight” increased its lead over “NBC Nightly News” week to week in Total Viewers (+12% – 1.411 million vs. 1.261 million) and Adults 18-49 (+26% – 159,000 vs. 126,000), posting its largest overall viewer lead in 7 weeks — since w/o 1/15/24.

“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 (+82,000 – 1.130 million vs. 1.048 million) and in Adults 18-49 (+70,000 – 777,000 vs. 707,000). In addition, “World News Tonight” is leading “CBS Evening News” (704,000 and 480,000, respectively) by 426,000 Adults 25-54 and by 297,000 Adults 18-49.

For the week, “World News Tonight” (7.787 million, 1.101 million and 755,000, respectively) beat “CBS Evening News”(4.527 million, 645,000 and 446,000, respectively) by 3.260 million Total Viewers, by 456,000 Adults 25-54 and by 309,000 Adults 18-49.

📺U-S TV SHOW RATINGS RANKER

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Friday, March 8, 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.