TV Ratings: Fox News Leads ABC In Primetime

FOX News Channel (FNC) ended the week of May 18th with over 2.6 million weekday primetime viewers and 248,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading ABC (2.1 million viewers), according to Nielsen Media Research Big Data + Panel. 

In Monday – Sunday primetime: FNC saw nearly 2.3 million viewers and in Monday – Sunday total day, FNC drew 1.5 million viewers. Notably, CBS Evening News continued its ratings dip (3.9 million viewers, 608,000 in the 25-54 demo), with the program posting its seventh consecutive week under 4 million viewers (including all weekday airings).

The Five commanded the week, claiming 3.5 million viewers and 324,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the 6 PM/ET hour, Special Report with Bret Baier averaged 2.6 million viewers and 244,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 7 PM/ET, The Ingraham Angle notched 2.5 million viewers and 221,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the 8 PM/ET hour, Jesse Watters Primetime nabbed 3.1 million viewers and 271,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 9 PM/ET, Hannity secured 2.5 million viewers and 240,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the 11PM/ET hour, FOX News @ Night with Trace Gallagher drew 1.5 million viewers and 157,000 in the 25-54 demo.

FNC’s flagship late-night program Gutfeld! (weeknights, 10 PM/ET) clinched over 2.8 million primetime viewers and 306,000 in the 25-54 demo, leading ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! (1.6 million viewers and 244,000 in the 25-54 demo) and NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon (1.4 million viewers and 355,000 in the 25-54 demo).

Graphics Courtesy of RoadMN

FNC’s daytime programs continued to outperform broadcast competition. America’s Newsroom (weekdays, 9AM-11AM/ET; 1.8 million viewers), The Faulkner Focus (weekdays, 11AM-12PM/ET; 1.8 million viewers), Outnumbered (weekdays, 12 PM/ET; 1.9 million viewers), America Reports (weekdays, 1PM-3PM/ET; 1.8 million viewers) and The Story with Martha MacCallum (weekdays, 3-4PM/ET; 1.8 million viewers) all outpaced NBC’s Today with Jenna & Sheinelle (1.4 million viewers) and ABC’s GMA3 (1.3 million viewers). The Will Cain Show (weekdays, 4-5PM/ET; 2.1 million viewers) surpassed CBS Mornings (1.9 million viewers).

On Saturday: The Big Weekend Show (weekends, 5-8PM/ET) co-hosted by Tomi Lahren and Johnny Joey Jones notched 1.7 million viewers, landing as the highest-rated cable news program of the day. Kayleigh McEnany's Saturday In America (Saturdays, 10AM-12PM/ET) followed, nabbing over 1.6 million viewers. FOX News Live anchored by Aishah Hasnie (Saturdays, 12-2PM/ET) saw nearly 1.4 million viewers. In primetime, Life, Liberty, & Levin (weekends, 8-9PM/ET) averaged 1.5 million viewers, My View with Lara Trump (Saturdays, 9PM/ET) garnered over 1.5 million viewers and FOX News Saturday Night (Saturdays, 10PM-11PM/ET) hosted by Jimmy Failla secured 1.3 million viewers.

On Sunday;  Sunday Morning Futures (Sundays, 10 AM/ET) anchored by Maria Bartiromo led the cable news programs for the day, delivering 1.7 million viewers. The Sunday Briefing (Sundays, 11 AM/ET), anchored this week by Jacqui Heinrich, drew nearly 1.6 million viewers. FOX News Live (Sundays, 12-2PM/ET) anchored by correspondent Mike Emanuel posted nearly 1.3 million viewers while The Big Weekend Show (weekends, 5-8PM/ET) captured over 1.4 million viewers. In primetime, Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy (Sunday, 9 PM/ET) led the night, claiming nearly 1.3 million viewers. Life, Liberty, & Levin (weekends, 8-9PM/ET) averaged 1.2 million viewers and One Nation with Brian Kilmeade (Sundays, 10PM/ET) saw 1.1 million viewers.

Source: Nielsen. Big Data + Panel. Week of 5-18-26 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.