FNC: Trump’s Speech Delivered 10.3M Viewers

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the Republican National Convention (RNC) for the fourth consecutive night, leading all of television and making history as the most watched cable news network for convention coverage, according to Nielsen data. 

Featuring presidential candidate former President Donald Trump’s speech from 10:30 PM/ET– 12AM/ET, FOX News Media attracted over 10.3 million viewers and over 2.1 million in the 25-54 demo, with FOX Business Network’s (FBN) simulcast, crushing the competition throughout broadcast and cable. 

This marked the highest program of the year, outpacing the CNN presidential debate on June 27th. From 10PM-12:30AM/ET, FOX News Democracy 2024: The Republican National Convention co-anchored by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, notched 9.2 million total viewers and 1.8 million 25-54 and an 367% and 188% advantage over CNN and a 676% and 1040% advantage over MSNBC during the timeslot. 

WATCH: Fox News’ @HowardKurtz on the huge TV ratings for Thursday night’s Trump RNC speech: “I’ve never seen anything like it, including all the years before I worked here.”

“During last night’s Trump speech 9.4 million people watched on Fox News - about triple the other two… pic.twitter.com/zedsURblCE

— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) July 19, 2024

At 10PM/ET, FOX News Media (FNC & FBN) again broke records with the highest-rated convention coverage since 1992, averaging 11 million viewers and 2.2 million in A25-54. Wrapping up the night, late-night show Gutfeld!, which aired in front of a live audience in Milwaukee from 12:30 – 1:30 AM/ET, drew 3.1 million viewers and 623,000 in the 25-54 demo, the programs highest-rated show yet.

Dominant throughout primetime every night, the network’s programming delivered 9.4 million P2+ and 1.7 million in the 25-54 demo on Thursday, with FOX Business Network’s combined simulcast. (FNC: 8.8 million P2+ and 1.6 million A25-54.) In total day (3-3 AM/ET), the network notched over 3.5 million viewers and 560,000 in the 25-54 demo, growing double-digits across all categories versus the previous night. 

FNC’s signature lineup crushed every hour among the competition: 

• The Ingraham Angle at 7 PM/ET (4.9 million P2+ and 688,000 A25-54)
• Jesse Watters Primetime at 8 PM/ET secured 7.3 million viewers and 1.2 million in the 25-54 demo. 
• At 9 PM/ET, Hannity delivered 8.7 million viewers and 1.6 million in the 25-54 demo, beating the competition with triple-digit percentages and finished as number one program of the night throughout the week. 
• In the lead up to primetime, FNC’s powerhouse program and the year’s most-watched show in all of cable news, The Five, delivered 4.4 million viewers and 453,000 in the 25-54 demo, followed by Special Report with Bret Baier which saw 4 million viewers and 474,000 in the 25-54 demo.

FNC finished the RNC with 6.7 million viewers and 1.1 million in the 25-54 demo, during Monday through Thursday primetime (8-11 PM/ET). The total day average for FNC saw nearly 3 million and 459,000 in the 25-54 demo, a double-digit increase across the board versus the 2016 RNC. In contrast, the competition failed to draw a significant audience, experiencing a massive drop off from 2016, as FNC occupied 75% of the entire cable news primetime audience. In comparison, CNN drew 1.2 million P2+ and 349,000 A25-5 in primetime and 555,000 and 142,000 A25-54 throughout total day, dropping 67% and 67%, respectively in primetime and down 59% and 66% in total day. On MSNBC, the network also dwindled in viewership, drawing only 1.1 million and 143,000 in primetime and 702,000 and 83,000 A25-54 throughout total day throughout the four-night period. MSNBC lost 40% and 72% of its primetime audience and 26% and 66% in total day.

10:00- 12:30 AM/ET

• FNC – 9,208,000 P2+; 1,801,000 A25-54
• CNN – 1,973,000 P2+; 625,000 A25-54
• MSNBC – 1,187,000 P2+; 158,000 A25-54
• ABC – 2,790,000 P2+, 733,000 A25-54
• CBS – 1,908,000 P2+, 523,000 A25-54
• NBC – 3,889,000 P2+, 900,000 A25-54

9-10 PM/ET

• FNC – 8,651,000 P2+; 1,552,000 A25-54
• CNN – 1,719,000 P2+; 537,000 A25-54
• MSNBC – 1,306,000 P2+; 158,000 A25-54

10-11 PM/ET

• FNC –10,417,000 P2+; 2,021,000 A25-54
• CNN – 2,204,000 P2+; 687,000 A25-54
• MSNBC – 1,274,000 P2+; 159,000 A25-54
• FBN – 597,000 P2+, 147,000 A25-54

8-11 PM/ET

• FNC –8,806,000 P2+; 1,580,000 A25-54
• CNN – 1,672,000 P2+; 502,000 A25-54
• MSNBC – 1,205,000 P2+; 153,000 A25-54
• FBN- 558,000 P2+, 126,000 A25-54
• ABC – 2,764,000 P2+, 596,000 A25-54
• CBS – 2,137,000 P2+, 566,000 A25-54
• NBC – 3,078,000 P2+, 665,000 A25-54