FNC is Ratings Leader Throughout August

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the month of August as the most watched network in all of cable, dominating total day and primetime viewers and coming only behind Olympics-focused USA Network in the 25-54 demo. 

According to Nielsen, FNC occupied nearly half of the total day (47%) and primetime (45%) audience share. As the Democratic National Convention (DNC) commenced in Chicago, IL (August 19th through August 22nd) FNC secured its spot as most watched for combined overall convention coverage, averaging 4.5 million viewers and 731,000 in the 25-54 demo during primetime for the DNC and RNC.

 In contrast, CNN had 2.3 million viewer and 614,000 in 25-54 demo and MSNBC drew 3.2 million and 516,000 in 25-54 demo. FNC finished the week of the DNC as the leader in total day viewership with 1.5 million viewers. The network also posted double-digit increases versus August 2023, attracting higher total day audience gains than the competition (+22% P2+ and +33% A25-54). Additionally, FNC remained as the top network in all of cable among upscale, Hispanic viewers during total day with 25-54 demo.

Closing out the summer, FNC is leading across every category and marked 42 consecutive months as the ratings leader in primetime and total day viewers and 25-54 demo. In primetime (8 – 11PM/ET), FNC delivered 2.3 million viewers and 288,000 in the 25-54 demographic, growing its audience 12% year-over-year in total viewership and 15% in the 25-54 demo. In total day, FNC drew 1.4 million viewers and 190,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC beat CNN and MSNBC by double to triple-digits across all categories, including the younger 25-54 and 18-49 demos for the month, and more than doubled CNN with total day and primetime viewership.

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  At 8 PM/ET Jesse Watters Primetime was the number one show in all of cable news with primetime viewership, delivering a whopping 3 million viewers and 360,000 in the 25-54 demo. 
• Leading among the younger 25-54 demo, FNC’s hit late-night program Gutfeld! continued as the genre’s most watched in broadcast and cable television viewers and the 25-54 demographic. Notching over 2.5 million viewers, 365,000 in 25-54 demo, Gutfeld! outranked 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, CBS’ After Midnight and Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Additionally, Gutfeld! was the most-watched program for post-DNC reaction, airing live head-to-head with the competition, outpacing them all despite their special programming and star-studded guest lineups.

• At 5 PM/ET, FNC’s The Five returned to the number one spot, securing 3.3 million viewers and 339,000 in 25-54 demo, leading all of cable news among total viewership. FNC’s The Five and Jesse Watters Primetime beat out multiple programs on broadcast, including CBS’ Face the Nation, NBC’s The Today Show, ABC’s This Week, Good Morning America, and The View along with NBC’s Meet the Press.

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 1.7 million viewers and 206,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, notched 1.7 million viewers and 202,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered earned 1.8 million viewers and 219,000 in the demo. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith also garnered 1.7 million viewers and 204,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 3 PM/ET, anchor Martha MacCallum’s The Story averaged 1.7 million viewers and 213,000 in the 25-54 demo as Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4 PM/ET nabbed 1.6 million viewers and 206,000 in the 25-54 category for the month.

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

TOTAL DAY

• FNC: 1,427,000 total viewers and 190,000 A25-54
• CNN: 615,000 total viewers and 123,000 A25-54
• MSNBC: 1,024,000 total viewers and 121,000 A25-54

PRIMETIME (8-11P)

• FNC: 2,274,000 total viewers and 288,000 A25-54
• CNN: 1,080,000 total viewers and 240,000 A25-54
• MSNBC: 1,827,000 total viewers and 246,000 A25-54

AUGUST RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:

• Total Viewers: The Five (3,291,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (2,972,000), Hannity (2,609,000), Gutfeld! (2,546,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,435,000)
• Adults 25-54: Gutfeld! (365,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (360,000), Hannity (350,000), The Five (339,000), The Ingraham Angle (281,000)