TV Ratings: Off-Week For Cable News, But FNC Still Tops

Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of April 15 saw Fox News average 1.983 million total viewers and 214,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime. TV Newser reports the network was down in total viewers by -5% and -13% in the A25-54 demo, relative to the week prior (the week beginning April 8). In total day viewing, Fox News averaged 1.291 million total viewers and 156,000 A25-54 viewers. This translates to respective declines of -2% and -7% from what Fox News averaged in those measurements the week prior.

Among all basic cable networks, Fox News remained in first place in total primetime viewers and in 5th place in the primetime demo. In total day, the network held its No. 1 position in total viewers but fell one spot to third place in the total day demo.

MSNBC in primetime averaged 1.351 million total viewers and 134,000 viewers from the A25-54 demo for the week. Covering the Trump Trial paid dividends as it was up by double digits, +17% in total viewers and an impressive +30% in the A25-54 demo from what the network averaged the week prior.

CNN averaged 596,000 total primetime viewers and 117,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime for the week. It posted declines of -6% in total viewers and -8% in the A25-54 demo compared to the previous week.

CNN finished the week rising from 10th place to 8th place in primetime with total viewers, but dropped from the 13th spot to 17th place in the demo from the week prior. It held firm at No. 4 in total day viewers but fell two places to land in 9th place in the total day demo.

Fox had nine out of the 15 most-watched cable news shows of the week, led by The Five (3.160 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET). MSNBC took the remaining six spots, led by Deadline: White House with Nicole Wallace coming in at No. 7 (1.845 million viewers at 5.pm. ET).

Gutfeld! Stayed at the top in the Adults 25-54 demo (291,000 viewers at 10 p.m. ET). Fox News had 10 of the top 15 cable news shows in the demo overall, with MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber securing the 11th spot (179,000 viewers at 6 p.m. ET) followed by four other MSNBC shows.

📺BROADCAST EVENING NEWS

ABC's David Muir, CBS' Norah O'Donnell, NBC's Lester Holt

“World News Tonight with David Muir” ranked as the No. 1 newscast on all of broadcast and cable in Total Viewers (7.563 million), Adults 25-54 (1.034 million) and Adults 18-49 (693,000) during the week of April 15, 2024, based on Live + Same Day Data from Nielsen Media Research. “World News Tonight” outperformed “NBC Nightly News” (5.942 million, 814,000 and 534,000, respectively) by 1.621 million Total Viewers, by 220,000 Adults 25-54 and by 159,000 Adults 18-49, respectively.

With Muir anchoring from Israel on Monday, “World News Tonight” improved on the previous week in Total Viewers (+130,000/+2% – 7.563 million vs. 7.433 million), standing as the only evening newscast to grow its overall audience week to week.

“World News Tonight” widened its margins week to week over “NBC Nightly News” in Total Viewers (+19% – 1.621 million vs. 1.361 million), Adults 25-54 (+4% – 220,000 vs. 212,000) and Adults 18-49 (+4% – 159,000 vs. 153,000), posting its largest lead in both key Adult demos in 5 weeks — since w/o 3/11/24.

“World News Tonight” increased its advantage year to year over the NBC program in Total Viewers (+16% – 1.621 million vs. 1.400 million), Adults 25-54 (+7% – 220,000 vs. 206,000) and Adults 18-49 (+26% – 159,000 vs. 126,000).

“World News Tonight” stood as the No. 2 program of the week in Total Viewers (7.563 million) on all of broadcast and cable.

“World News Tonight” has won the last 281 of 280 weeks in Total Viewers and 208 of the last 212 in Adults 25-54.

📺TV SHOW RATINGS RANKER

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Sunday, April 21, 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.