FNC Dominates Competition for 208th
Consecutive Month as Most-Watched Cable News Network in Total Day and
Primetime
“Hannity” Was Most-Watched Program in Cable News in Total Viewers
and Demo Followed by “Tucker Carlson Tonight” Both Topping “The Rachel
Maddow Show” In Key Categories
CNN Hits Lowest-Rated Month in Total Day Viewers Since October
2015 and August 2015 with Demo
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–FOX News Channel (FNC) continued to crush all of basic cable during the
month of April as the most-watched network among total viewers in both
total day and primetime, according to Nielsen Media Research. Marking 34
consecutive months as the leading basic cable network in total day with
1.4 million viewers, FNC also garnered 2.4 million viewers in primetime,
finishing first for the third month in a row. For the 208th
month in a row, FNC also beat CNN and MSNBC across both categories,
while CNN marked its lowest-rated month in total day viewers since
October 2015 and August 2015 with Demo.
Hannity finished the month of April as the highest-rated
cable news program while Tucker Carlson Tonight ranked
number two, outpacing MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow at 9PM/ET in
both total viewers and the 25-54 demo. Both Tucker Carlson Tonight
and Hannity also beat NBA Playoffs airing on ESPN and TNT and
Monday Night Raw airing on USA Network in total viewers. Additionally,
FNC’s regular scheduled programming dominated CNN’s five hour town hall
event on April 22nd, securing 2.3 million viewers and 380,000
in the A25-54 demo while CNN came in last in total viewers with 1.2
million and 371,00 in the demo for the night.
In primetime, FNC averaged 2.4 million beating CNN’s 767,000 and MSNBC’s
1,660,000 total viewers. With Adults 25-54, FNC garnered 389,000,
topping CNN’s 198,000 and MSNBC’s 255,000. In total day, FNC averaged
1.4 million viewers, trouncing CNN’s 545,000 and MSNBC’s 919,000. In the
25-54 demo, FNC averaged 243,000 ranking ahead of CNN with 141,000 and
MSNBC also with 141,000 in total day.
For the month of April, FNC programs accounted for nine of the top 15
cable news programs in total viewers and claimed 10 of the top 15 cable
news programs in the 25-54 demo. Hannity, Tucker
Carlson Tonight, The Ingraham Angle and The Five were among
the top five cable news programs in both total viewers and in the 25-54
demographic.
Kicking off FNC’s daytime programming, the 4AM/ET hour of FOX &
Friends First garnered 487,000 viewers and 119,000 with A25-54. The
5AM/ET hour of FOX & Friends First had a total of
653,000 viewers and 165,000 with A25-54. Continuing to make cable news
history, FNC’s signature morning show FOX & Friends marked
210 months as the number one cable news program in its timeslot, with an
average of 1.5 million viewers and 289,000 with the 25-54 demo, beating
CNN and MSNBC in both categories. At 9AM/ET, America’s
Newsroom delivered 1.6 million viewers and 266,000 with A25-54, also
beating both CNN and MSNBC across both categories. FNC’s afternoon
ensemble program at 12PM/ET, Outnumbered, garnered 1.5
million viewers and 253,000 in the 25-54 category beating CNN and MSNBC
combined in both categories. Outnumbered Overtime anchored
by Harris Faulkner delivered 1.3 million viewers and 225,000 with A25-54
while The Daily Briefing with Dana Perino averaged 1.3
million viewers and 213,000 in the 25-54 demo. During the 3PM/ET hour,
FNC’s Shepard Smith Reporting averaged 1.3 million viewers
and 225,000 with A25-54. Your World with Neil Cavuto at
4PM/ET delivered 1.4 million viewers and averaged 223,000 with A25-54.
During FNC’s early evening programming, The Five garnered
2.4 million viewers and 380,000 in the demo. Anchored by chief political
anchor Bret Baier at 6PM/ET, Special Report averaged 2
million viewers and 353,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Story with
Martha MacCallum at 7PM/ET delivered 1.8 million viewers and
323,000 with A25-54.
In primetime, Tucker Carlson Tonight (8PM/ET) delivered 2.8
million viewers and 499,000 with A25-54. Hannity was the
top-rated program for the month with 3.1 million viewers and 514,000 in
the 25-54 demo. Meanwhile, CNN’s Cuomo Primetime in the same
9PM/ET timeslot had its lowest-rated delivery since launch in total
viewers and the demo with 917,000 and 235,000 respectively. At 10PM/ET, The
Ingraham Angle, hosted by Laura Ingraham, averaged 2.5 million
viewers and 410,000 in the A25-54 demo. FOX News @ Night with
Shannon Bream garnered 1.4 million viewers and 284,000 with A25-54.
During the weekends, Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo averaged
1.4 million viewers and 257,000 in the demo on Sundays at 10AM/ET. MediaBuzz hosted
by Howie Kurtz delivered 1.3 million viewers and 235,000 in the 25-54
demo, easily besting CNN’s Reliable Sources (668,000 P2+;
149,000 25-54 demo).
RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS
FOR APRIL 2019:
Total Viewers: Hannity (3,086,000), Tucker
Carlson Tonight (2,834,000), Rachel Maddow Show (2,630,00), The
Ingraham Angle (2,455,000), The Five (2,398,000)
Adults 25-54: Hannity (514,000), Tucker
Carlson Tonight (499,000), Rachel Maddow Show (427,000),
The Ingraham Angle (410,000), The Five (380,000)
APRIL 2019 VS. APRIL 2018 NIELSEN NUMBERS (7-day week, L+SD):
TOTAL DAY:
FNC: 1,351,000 total viewers – down
3% (243,000 in 25-54 – down 16%)
CNN: 545,000
total viewers – down 25% (141,000 in 25-54 – down 37%)
MSNBC: 919,000
total viewers – down 8% (141,000 in 25-54 – down 34%)
PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET
FNC: 2,395,000 total
viewers – flat (389,000 in 25-54 – down 19%)
CNN: 767,000
total viewers – down 26% (198,000 in 25-54 – down 41%)
MSNBC: 1,660,000
total viewers – down 14% (255,000 in 25-54 – down 36%)
FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service
delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. The
number one network in cable, FNC has been the most watched television
news channel for 17 consecutive years. According to a 2019 Suffolk
University poll, FOX News is the most trusted source for television news
or commentary in the country while a 2019 Brand Keys Emotion Engagement
Brand Analysis survey found that FOX News was the most trusted cable
news brand. A 2017 Gallup/Knight Foundation survey also found that among
Americans who could name an objective news source, FOX News is the
top-cited outlet. Owned by FOX Corporation, FNC is available in nearly
90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely
notching the top ten programs in the genre.
Contacts
FOX News Media Contact:
Katie Cwayna/212-301-3285
