TV Ratings: 13 Fox Shows Make Top 15 List For July

FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the month of July as the most watched network in all of television in weekday primetime, outpacing not only all of cable but the competition on broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC. 

Posting its highest July on record and among top 10 highest-rated months of all time, FNC is the only channel to grow its audience versus 2020 and 2016, as the competition shed massive viewership.

According to Nielsen Media Research, FNC has accelerated the most among U.S. television, gaining the largest percentage of viewers and solidifying its spot as the go-to destination for all breaking news, occupying the largest share of the audience since November 2014 (60% in total day viewers). 

Attracting the highest viewership in television, FOX News Media was the leader in news during the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, the Republican National Convention (RNC), President Biden’s decision to end his re-election campaign and his first Oval Office address to the nation following the news. FNC delivered 99 of the top 100 telecasts in cable news, while MSNBC netted just one and CNN had zero. July was the highest-rated month since the November 2020 election as more Independents continued to tune in to FNC over any other network, according to data from Nielsen MRI Fusion. Additionally, FNC ranked as the top network in all of cable among upscale, Asian and Hispanic viewers during total day viewership and 25-54 demo.

In primetime, FNC delivered 3.5 million viewers and 498,000 in the 25-54 demographic, growing its audience double-digits year-over-year (+120%) in total viewership and even attracting 236% more viewers in the 25-54 demo. In total day, FNC drew 1.9 million viewers and 268,000 in the 25-54 demo, again more than doubling its demo audience. FNC also posted the most growth month over month, accelerating 41% in total viewership and 69% in 25-54 demo during total day hours and 52% in primetime viewers with a 95% bump in the 25-54 demo. In contrast, MSNBC posted its lowest weekday primetime viewership average of 2024.

FNC is the only network to show growth across the board versus the prior political seasons, a notable feat due to heightened viewership during the pandemic and the impact of cord cutting on the industry. Notably, FNC is up double-digits in both total day (+17%) viewers and 7-11 PM/ET primetime (+15%), while CNN lost 47% of total day viewers and 43% in primetime versus 2020. MSNBC followed suit dropping 40% of total day and primetime viewers. This trend also is reflected versus 2016, with FNC growing 21% in total day viewers and 25% in primetime as CNN shed 45% and 47%, respectively while MSNBC was also down across the board in primetime.

At 5 PM/ET, FNC’s The Five averaged above 3.9 million viewers and 396,000 in 25-54 demo, outpacing every program on CNN and MSNBC across the board. Following the hour, Special Report with Bret Baier (weeknights, 6 PM/ET) averaged 2.9 million viewers and 337,000 in 25-54 demo, marking its top month since November 2020.

On July 17th, FNC’s revamped primetime lineup marked its one-year anniversary. Kicking off with The Ingraham Angle at 7 PM/ET and closing with late-night program Gutfeld! at 10PM/ET, each show grew its timeslot across the board. Overall, from 7 – 11PM/ET, FNC attracted 37% more viewers and 65% in the 25-54 demo versus the interim period with each host beating CNN and MSNBC combined in its time slot with total viewers. For the first time since 2016, FNC beat Discovery among all younger primetime demos during Shark Week.

At 8 PM/ET Jesse Watters Primetime was the number one show in all of cable news, marking its highest-rated month since launch. For the month, Watters delivered a whopping 4.4 million viewers and 590,000 in the 25-54 demo, crushing the hour by double- and triple-digit advantages. Notably, year-over-year, Watters grew the timeslot by 132% with total viewers and 246% with 25-54 viewers, establishing the program as the fastest growing program in all of cable news.

FNC’s hit late-night program Gutfeld! continued as the genre’s most-watched in broadcast and cable television in viewers, 25-54 and the younger A18-49 demographic with nearly three million viewers, 458,000 in 25-54 demo and 296,000 in A18-49. During the month of July, Gutfeld! notched its largest audience in viewers and 25-54 demo in program history as it 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. The program also finished the month on track to have its most-watched year in program history.

FNC’s primetime lineup once again swept the competition every hour, beginning at 7 PM/ET with FNC’s The Ingraham Angle averaging 3.3 million viewers and 423,000 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s Hannity at 9 PM/ET remained dominant, nabbing 4.3 million viewers and 657,000 in the 25-54 demo, making it the top show of the month in the 25-54 demo. Closing the night at 11 PM/ET, FOX News @ Night surpassed the competition, delivering 1.7 million viewers and 282,000 in 25-54 demo. Notably all three shows posted their best months since November 2020.

📺JULY RANKINGS

Among Total Viewers

1. Jesse Watters Primetime – Fox News -( 4,413,000)
2. Hannity – Fox News – (4,300,000)
3. The Five – Fox News ( 3,854,000)
4. The Ingraham Angle – Fox News – (3,314,000)
5. Special Report with Bret Baier – Fox News – (2,913,000)
6. Gutfeld! – Fox News – (2,907,000)
7. The Story – Fox News – (2,372,000)
8. America Reports – Fox News – (2,232,000)
9. Outnumbered – Fox News – (2,192,000)
10. Your World with Neil Cavuto – Fox News – (2,120,000)
11. The Faulkner Focus – Fox News – ( 2,063,000)
12. America’s Newsroom – Fox News – (2,039,000)
13. Fox News at Night – Fox News – (1,668,000)
14. Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell – MSNBC – (1,493,000)
15. The Rachel Maddow Show/Alex Wagner Tonight Average – MSNBC – (1,443,000)

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 2 million viewers and 257,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Faulkner Focus at 11 AM/ET, anchored by Harris Faulkner, notched 2.1 million viewers and 265,000 in the 25-54 demo, marking the show’s second best month since launch with viewers. At 12 PM/ET, Outnumbered earned 2.2 million viewers and 271,000 in the demo. From 1-3 PM/ET, America Reports with John Roberts and Sandra Smith garnered 2.2 million viewers and 283,000 in the 25-54 demo, marking the show’s best month ever. Each of these programs outperformed NBC’s Today with Hoda and Jenna, NBC News Daily, GMA3, Kelly Clarkson Show and The Talk in total viewers. At 3 PM/ET, anchor Martha MacCallum’s The Story averaged 2.4 million viewers and 309,000 in the 25-54 demo, beating ABC’s The View in viewership. Your World with Neil Cavuto at 4 PM/ET nabbed 2.1 million viewers and 259,000 in the 25-54 category for the month, marking its best month November 2020.

On the digital front, FOX News Digital is pacing towards its best month of media initiates and total minutes spent since November 2020 according to Adobe Analytics. Additionally, the week of July 14th, following the assassination attempt on former President Trump and the Republican National Convention, FOX News Digital saw its top week in 2024 with unique devices. FOX Nation is also experiencing increased engagement, with time spent watching up 52% versus June 2023 and up 49% versus same time last year. Currently, July 2024 is charting as the highest performing month for the platform in minutes watched since April 2023.

📺TELEVISION SHOW RATINGS RANKING

Ranking is based on ratings data as of Saturday, July 27, 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.