FOX News Channel (FNC) finished the week of February 23rd leading ABC and NBC in Monday-Sunday primetime viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel. Averaging 3.9 million Monday-Sunday primetime viewers and 482,000 in the 25-54 demo, FNC led ABC (2.9 million viewers) and NBC (2.7 million viewers), according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel. Monday - Sunday total day (6 AM-6 AM/ET), FNC delivered over 2.3 million viewers and 263,000 in the 25-54 demo.
FNC posted its highest rated Saturday since April 2003 with 3 million viewers across total day delivering its highest-rated weekend since July 13-14, 2024, which saw 2.7 million viewers. The network also delivered 4 million viewers in primetime. Additionally, FOX News Media’s coverage of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 24th was the highest-rated in television with an audience of 11.5 million viewers and 1.9 million in the 25-54 demo across FNC, FOX Network and FOX Business Network according to final big data + panel from Nielsen Media Research.
On Saturday, FNC’s special coverage of the U.S.- Israeli strikes on Iran posted its highest rated Saturday since April 2003 across total day with 3 million viewers. In primetime on Saturday, FNC drew 4 million viewers and 517,000 in the 25-54 demo. Saturday in America, anchored by Kayleigh McEnany and Bret Baier (Saturday, 10 AM–12 PM/ET; 4 million viewers) posted its highest-rated episode in program history. The Story with Martha MacCallum’s 5PM hour delivered the highest rated hour of the day posting 4,667,000 viewers and outpaced NBC’s Saturday Night Live which saw 4,611,000 viewers. America’s Newsroom (12-2PM/ET) anchored by Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino delivered 3.7 million viewers, America Reports (2-4PM/ET) anchored by Sandra Smith and John Roberts nabbed 3.8 million viewers, Special Report with Bret Baier (6-7PM/ET) followed in second with over 4.4 million viewers, The Ingraham Angle (7-8PM/ET) and Jesse Watters Primetime (8-9PM/ET) delivered over 4 million viewers, and Hannity (9-10PM/ET) nabbed 3.9 million viewers.
On Sunday, FNC’s special coverage continued, delivering 2.6 million viewers and 347,000 in the 25-54 demo across 6A-3A total day and 3.1 million viewers and 475,000 in the 25-54 demo across primetime. Sunday Morning Futures anchored by Maria Bartiromo (Sunday, 10 AM/ET; 3.4 million viewers) and The Sunday Briefing anchored by Jacqui Heinrich (Sunday, 11 AM/ET; 2.8 million viewers) both posted their highest-rated episodes in program history. A special edition of The Faulkner Focus (Sunday, 12-2PM/ET) and The Will Cain Show (8-9PM/ET) averaged over 3 million viewers, while Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy (Sunday, 9 PM/ET; 3.3 million viewers) posted its highest-rated episode in program history.
The Five delivered over 4.1 million viewers and 380,000 in the 25-54 demo, securing 64% share of cable news viewers for the hour. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier averaged 3.4 million viewers and 325,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle at 7PM/ET averaged 3.2 million viewers and 333,000 in the 25-54 demo. Jesse Watters Primetime delivered 3.9 million viewers and 431,000 in the 25-54 demo at 8 PM/ET, marking its highest rated week of the year. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity averaged 3.3 million viewers and 368,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX News & Night with Trace Gallagher at 11PM/ET nabbed 1.7 million viewers.
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| Ratings Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN |
FNC’s late-night hit Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) averaged 3.1 million viewers and delivered 345,000 in the 25-54 demo, continuing to lead all late-night competition in total viewers and the 25-54 demo. It also continued to outpace the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2 million viewers; 266,000 A25-54), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.8 million viewers; 270,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.1 million viewers; 237,000 A25-54).
FNC continued to see its daytime programs outperform the broadcast competition. America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9AM-11AM/ET; 2,442,000 viewers), The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11AM-12PM/ET; 2,454,000 viewers), Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 2,292,000 viewers), America Reports (weekdays, 1PM-3PM/ET; 2,371,000 viewers), The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3PM/ET; 2,878,000 viewers) and The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4 PM/ET; 2,645,000 viewers) all led CBS Mornings (1.8 million viewers) and ABC’s GMA 3 (1.4 million viewers). Notably, The Story with Martha MacCallum outpaced ABC’s The View (2.7 million viewers) for the week .
Source: Nielsen. Big Data + Panel. Week of 2-23-26 ratings data. Average audience for cable news networks Monday - Sunday programming and Monday-Sunday based on Total Day and Prime (6a-6a, 8P-11P), P2+, P25-54. Cable News/Broadcast Program averages includes all programing and sustainers.