Fox News Dominates Cable as Most-Watched Network (again)

• FNC Beats CNN, MSNBC and HLN combined in Primetime Total Viewers
• FNC programs beat their timeslot competition on MSNBC and CNN combined
• CNN and MSNBC lost viewers in critical demographic while FNC gained 

More viewers turned to Fox News Channel for honest news and commentary than the two major competitors put together, according to Nielsen Media Research.

FNC proved its dominance once again during the month of October, marking 28 consecutive months as the most-watched basic cable network in total day with 1.7 million total viewers, and the fifth consecutive month as the most-watched basic cable network in primetime with 2.8 million total viewers. Among cable news, FNC bested its competition for 202 consecutive months in total viewers, notably beating CNN, MSNBC and HLN combined in primetime, in addition to outpacing CNN and MSNBC combined in total day.

MSNBC, as well as NBC News, has tilted its coverage to the extreme left which has pushed moderate viewers away. CNN could have capitalized on that and chosen to take a middle position as FOX has, but instead, CNN is trying to one-up MSNBC in a fight over progressive viewers. Independents and conservatives trust and prefer FNC’s balanced approach to news and the numbers prove that out.

“Instead of editorially finding its own ground somewhere between Fox News and MSNBC, CNN has tried to take on MSNBC,” wrote Lifezette contributor Heather Hunter. “The network has had reporters such as Jim Acosta trying to lecture the president about immigration, and last week CNN fired Jeffrey Lord, its last Trump-supporting contributor, for a joke he made on social media.”

MSNBC continues to struggle as its star conspiracy theorist, Rachel Maddow, pinned her entire reputation on the Trump-Russia investigation. Most Americas, including Democrats, have figured out that there’s nothing there and lost interest. The month of October marks the first month since February 2017 that MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show did not land among the top five programs in both P2+ and 25-54 demo.

Fox News is attracting viewers of all ages including Millenials – a key target of left-leaning media and their advertisers.

Throughout total day and primetime, FNC continued to outpace CNN and MSNBC among all demographics.

OCTOBER 2018 VS. OCTOBER 2017 NIELSEN NUMBERS (7-day week):

TOTAL DAY:

• FNC: 1,685,000 total viewers – up 16% (332,000 in 25-54 – up 3%)
• CNN: 689,000 total viewers – down 5% (201,000 in 25-54 – down 16%)
• MSNBC: 909,000 total viewers – up 1% (161,000 in 25-54 – down 20%) 

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET

• FNC: 2,829,000 total viewers – up 25% (540,000 in 25-54 – up 13%)
• CNN: 931,000 total viewers – up 1% (290,000 in 25-54 – down 11%)
• MSNBC: 1,575,000 total viewers – 0% (281,000 in 25-54 – down 19%)

FNC’s mix of news and commentary continues to bring in the highest ratings in their time slots

For the month of October, the network claimed 13 of the top 15 cable news programs in total viewers and boasted nine of the top ten cable news programs in the 25-54 demo. FNC programs accounted for the top five cable news programs in both total viewers and the 25-54 demo. Hannity, Tucker Carlson Tonight, The Ingraham Angle and The Five were among the top five programs in both total viewers and in the 25-54 demographic, while Special Report Bret Baier landed in the top five most-watched in total viewers, and The Story with Martha MacCallum in the top five among the 25-54 demo.

Hannity was the most-watched cable news program for the seventh consecutive month, while programs, including Tucker Carlson Tonight, The Story with Martha MacCallum, The Ingraham Angle, Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner, The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino and FOX News @ Night with Shannon Bream delivered all-time highs among total viewers. The Story, The Ingraham Angle and FOX News @ Night also delivered all-time highs in the 25-54 demo.

 Total Viewers:

• Hannity (3,495,000)
• Tucker Carlson Tonight (3,231,000)
• The Ingraham Angle (2,973,000)
• The Five (2,838,000)
• Special Report with Bret Baier (2,668,000)

Adults 25-54:

•  Hannity (680,000)
• Tucker Carlson Tonight (642,000)
• The Ingraham Angle (585,000)
• The Five (499,000)
• The Story with Martha MacCallum (493,000)

Additionally, FNC programs, including FOX & Friends, America’s Newsroom, Outnumbered, Outnumbered Overtime with Harris Faulkner, The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino, The Five, Special Report with Bret Baier, The Story with Martha MacCallum, Tucker Carlson Tonight and The Ingraham Angle all beat their timeslot competition on MSNBC and CNN combined in total viewers. America’s Newsroom, Outnumbered, The Five and Tucker Carlson Tonight also beat MSNBC and CNN combined in the 25-54 demo.

Among cable news competition, compared to October 2017, MSNBC and CNN were down or flat across the board, while FNC programs are up. MSNBC programs, including Morning Joe, All in with Chris Hayes, The Rachel Maddow Show, The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell and The 11^th Hour with Brian Williams all had their lowest-rated months this year in both P2+ and the 25-54 demo.  Additionally, MTP Daily with Chuck Todd had its lowest month of the year in the 25-54 demo and finished third in its timeslot for the fourth consecutive month. Additionally, the program is down 22 percent in total viewers, and 28 percent in the demo vs. the previous month.