Fox News Channel Crushes CNN, MSNBC During 1Q

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the first quarter of 2024 as cable’s most-watched network in total day and primetime, dominating primetime viewers in cable news for 89 consecutive quarters, according to Nielsen Media Research. 

FNC notched its highest-rated quarter since 1Q’23 among all categories and beat CNN and MSNBC combined with total day and primetime. 

During the first quarter of 2024, FNC delivered 95 of the top 100 telecasts in cable news for the entire quarter. In total day, FNC delivered 1,297,000 viewers, 156,000 with 25-54 demo and 100,000 with 18-49 demo. In primetime from 7-11 PM, FNC netted 2,018,000 viewers, 221,000 in the 25-54 demo, and 147,000 with 18-49 demo. FNC’s share of the cable news audience was 50% across total day and 53% prime viewers as more Independents tuned in to FNC over any other network, according to data from Nielsen MRI Fusion. Notably, FNC posted the largest gains across the board in both categories versus the prior quarter. Additionally, CNN which saw quarter over quarter declines in total day and primetime averaged just 85,000 in total day 25-54 demo, which is an all-time low in the network’s recorded history.

During the month of March, FNC was number one in all of cable in total day and primetime viewership and beat CNN and MSNBC across the board with double and triple advantages. Additionally, FNC occupied more than half the audience share among total viewers and swept every hour in the 25-54 demo.

At 5 PM/ET, FNC’s powerhouse The Five continued to shatter records by becoming the first non-primetime program ever to top all of cable news for ten consecutive quarters. Averaging over 3 million viewers and 275,000 in A25-54, the show also outpaced every program on CNN and MSNBC across the board. Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET) averaged 2.2 million viewers and 213,000 in 25-54 demo, dominating its timeslot.

Gutfeld! garnered 2.2 million viewers and led all of cable news in primetime in the younger demo (304,000) for the full quarter for the first time in the program’s history, notching double digit increases over the first quarter of 2023. Gutfeld! has remained the highest-rated late-night program in broadcast and cable television in viewers, topping CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers and CBS’ After Midnight with total viewership. Additionally, Gutfeld! outpaces Kimmel in the younger A25-54 and 18-49 demos and has continued to trounce Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in viewers and A25-54 despite Stewart’s much touted return to the program.

FNC’s primetime lineup, which continued its dominance, sweeping cable news every hour. At 7 PM/ET, FNC’s The Ingraham Angle finished the quarter averaging 2.2 million viewers and 222,000 in the 25-54 demo. Following at 8 PM/ET, Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 2.8 million viewers and 284,000 in the 25-54 demo, crushing the timeslot and growing the hour 11 percent with total viewers quarter-over-quarter as the highest rated show in primetime cable news. FNC’s Hannity at 9 PM/ET remained dominant, nabbing 2.4 million viewers and 266,000 in the 25-54 demo, easily winning the timeslot and topping CNN and MSNBC in both categories. Closing the night at 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night surpassed the competition, delivering 1.2 million viewers and 187,000 in 25-54 demo.

FNC’s daytime lineup, led by two-hour morning news program America’s Newsroom with Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino (weekdays, 9-11 AM/ET), saw 1.6 million viewers and 192,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, notched 1.6 million viewers and 200,000 in the 25-54 demo and bested CNN and MSNBC across the board. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered earned 1.7 million viewers and 206,000 in the demo. Notably, FNC’s Outnumbered, continued to surpass NBC’s Today with Hoda and Jenna, NBC News Daily, GMA3, Kelly Clarkson Show and The Talk in total viewers. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith garnered 1.5 million viewers and 169,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 3 PM/ET, anchor Martha MacCallum’s The Story averaged 1.5 million viewers and 160,000 in the 25-54 demo, while Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4 PM/ET also nabbed 1.5 million viewers and 162,000 in the 25-54 category for the quarter, outpacing the competition on MSNBC and CNN in the timeslot across the board.

➤1Q’24 NIELSEN NUMBERS (Monday-Sunday, Live + Same Day):

TOTAL DAY:

• FNC: 1,297,000 total viewers (156,000 in 25-54)
• CNN: 467,000 total viewers (85,000 in 25-54)
• MSNBC: 814,000 total viewers (82,000 in 25-54)

PRIMETIME (8-11P):

• FNC: 2,067,000 total viewers (233,000 in 25-54)
• CNN: 594,000 total viewers (121,000 in 25-54)
• MSNBC: 1,253,000 total viewers (121,000 in 25-54)

ࣸ➤MARCH 2024 NIELSEN NUMBERS (Monday-Sunday, Live + Same Day):

TOTAL DAY:

• FNC: 1,306,000 total viewers (158,000 in 25-54)
• CNN: 461,000 total viewers (84,000 in 25-54)
• MSNBC: 830,000 total viewers (86,000 in 25-54)

PRIMETIME (8-11P)

• FNC: 2,135,000 total viewers (246,000 in 25-54)
• CNN: 601,000 total viewers (124,000 in 25-54)
• MSNBC: 1,307,000 total viewers (133,000 in 25-54)