FOX News Channel finished the week of March 16th with 2,845,000 weekday primetime viewers, outpacing broadcast network NBC (2,804,000), according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel.
FNC also outperformed NBC in Monday - Sunday primetime viewers, nabbing 2,475,000 viewers, while NBC saw 2,421,000 viewers. In Monday - Sunday total day, FNC drew 1.7 million viewers and outpaced the cable news competition combined among total viewers during Monday-Sunday total day and primetime.
The Five continued its reign with 3.8 million viewers and 367,000 in the 25-54 demo. On Friday March 20th, CBS Evening News posted its lowest program since Tony Dokoupil took over as anchor delivering a miniscule 2,767,000 viewers as the program is pacing towards its lowest rated first quarter of the 21st century. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier averaged 2.9 million viewers and 266,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle at 7PM/ET drew 2.7 million viewers and 243,000 in the 25-54 demo. Jesse Watters Primetime with guest hosts averaged nearly 2.9 million viewers and 244,000 in the 25-54 demo at 8 PM/ET. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity averaged 2.7 million viewers and 253,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher at 11PM/ET posted 1.6 million viewers.
The Five continued its reign with 3.8 million viewers and 367,000 in the 25-54 demo. On Friday March 20th, CBS Evening News posted its lowest program since Tony Dokoupil took over as anchor delivering a miniscule 2,767,000 viewers as the program is pacing towards its lowest rated first quarter of the 21st century. At 6 PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier averaged 2.9 million viewers and 266,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Ingraham Angle at 7PM/ET drew 2.7 million viewers and 243,000 in the 25-54 demo. Jesse Watters Primetime with guest hosts averaged nearly 2.9 million viewers and 244,000 in the 25-54 demo at 8 PM/ET. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity averaged 2.7 million viewers and 253,000 in the 25-54 demo. FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher at 11PM/ET posted 1.6 million viewers.
CNN’s ‘War With Iran’ Town Hall at 9PM/ET on March 20th delivered 596,000 viewers and 105,000 in the 25-54 demo, posting a 41% decline in total viewers from the previous CNN town hall and the lowest-rated CNN town hall since January 2024. Comparatively, Hannity at 9PM/ET averaged 2.4 million viewers and doubled CNN’s 25-54 demo with 212,000 viewers. Despite the special programming, CNN posted the lowest share of total viewers in cable news for the Friday 9 PM hour at only 14%.
FNC’s late-night hit Gutfeld! (weekdays, 10 PM/ET) averaged 3 million viewers and delivered 330,000 in the 25-54 demo, continuing to lead all late-night competition in total viewers and the 25-54 demo. It also continued to overtake the broadcast competition including CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (1,921,000 viewers; 237,000 A25-54), ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2,056,000; 303,000 A25-54) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.3 million viewers; 277,000 A25-54)
FNC continued to see its daytime programs outperform the broadcast competition. Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 2.2 million viewers) and The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4-5PM/ET; 2.3 million viewers) both surpassed NBC’s Today Third Hour (2,130,000 viewers). America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9AM-11AM/ET; 2.1 million viewers), The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11AM-12PM/ET; 2.1 million viewers), America Reports (weekdays, 1PM-3PM/ET; 1.9 million viewers), and The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3-4PM/ET; 2 million viewers) all led CBS Mornings (1.7 million viewers) and ABC’s GMA 3 (1.6 million viewers).
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| Ratings Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN |
On Saturday: Kayleigh McEnany's Saturday In America (Saturdays, 10AM-12PM/ET) was the highest rated show of the day in total viewers averaging 1.8 million viewers.. FOX News Live anchored by Aishah Hasnie (Saturdays, 12-2PM/ET) and The Big Weekend Show (weekends, 5-8PM/ET) co-hosted by Tomi Lahren and Johnny Joey Jones both posted over 1.5 million viewers. In primetime, Life, Liberty, & Levin (weekends, 8-9PM/ET) posted 1.5 million viewers and My View with Lara Trump (Saturdays, 9-10PM/ET) averaged 1.6 million viewers.
On Sunday: Maria Bartiromo’s Sunday Morning Futures (Sundays, 10 AM/ET) was the highest rated show of the weekend with nearly 2.1 million total viewers. The Sunday Briefing hosted by Peter Doocy (Sundays, 11AM - 12PM/ET) posted 1.9 million viewers. FOX News Live (Sundays, 12-2PM/ET) anchored by correspondent Kevin Corke and The Big Weekend Show (Saturdays/Sundays, 5-8PM/ET) co-hosted by Tomi Lahren and Johnny Joey Jones both posted over 1.6 million viewers. In primetime, Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy drew 1.7 million viewers while Life, Liberty, & Levin (weekends, 8-9PM/ET) and One Nation with Brian Kilmeade both averaged 1.5 million viewers.
Source: Nielsen. Big Data + Panel. Week of 3-16-26 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 programming and sustainers.