Fox News Channel ended 2024 achieving the highest share of cable news viewership since 2015 with viewership greatly increased across the full year despite a chaotic news cycle which had President Biden's withdrawal from the race along with several major global events. President-elect Donald Trump meeting world leaders in France created ongoing debate on Fox program called The Five.
Fox News Channel Achieves Nine Years as Top Cable News Network in Both Day and Primetime Categories
Fox News Channel attained an average viewership of 1.5 million viewers each total day plus 2.4 million during primetime leading all cable channels for nine straight years increasing their audience by 21% for day and 31% during primetime versus 2023 figures. Suzanne Scott Fox news Media CEO expressed great pride in the Fox News team who covered key stories resonating across different demographics throughout a tumultuous period which included a Presidential debate in which Joe Biden performed very poorly leading to his withdrawal from election. Multiple world crises including wars in Ukraine and the Middle East along with protests in college campuses all factored in.
MSNBC and CNN Face Declining Viewership While Fox News Increases Share Of Cable Viewers
MSNBC averaged a viewership of 807,000 each total day plus CNN managed 488,000 while in primetime MSNBC averaged 1.7 million viewers against 700,000 from CNN and this highlights the stark differences to the dominant cable news numbers seen by Fox network during similar times. The significant viewership dropoff at CNN ended the year as the lowest ratings for the network both during total day and key demographic groupings. Fox News finished with its highest share of the cable news audience within nearly a decade which constituted around 55% of prime time viewers plus 53% throughout the day. Fox has now held number one ranking on total viewership along with primetime cable viewers for more than twenty-three years.
Fox News Wins Key Demographic Groups with "Gutfeld!" Program Outperforming Late-Night Broadcast Rivals
Fox News attracted advertisers by drawing key demographic groups 25-54 year old individuals with an average of 187,000 during the day along with CNN's 92000 and MSNBC 86000 demonstrating FNC significant appeal to this advertiser demographic. " Gutfeld! " a leading program drew 355,000 viewers within this same key demographic beating shows like Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show along with The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon which are on competing broadcast networks proving FNC overall reach. Jesse Watters Primetime drew 3.1 million viewers during primetime topping all news programs further cementing FNC domination for ratings viewership.
"The Five" Program Ranks First on Cable for Third Straight Year with Strong Viewership Results Across Programs
The Five co-hosted by Greg Gutfeld Jesse Watters Dana Perino Jeanine Pirro Jessica Tarlov and Harold Ford Jr averaged 3.4 million viewers earning the first-place cable news show for three years in a row becoming the first non-primetime cable program ever that surpassed 4 million viewers during a fourth quarter season. Fox News Network programs like The Five Jesse Watters Primetime Hannity Gutfeld The Ingraham Angle Special Report with Bret Baier plus others dominated all competition including shows from CNN and MSNBC among total viewers and demonstrating a powerful and consistent output from the news network. Fox programs comprised 70 of 100 most watched programs throughout cable news that year.
Weekend Programs and Special Coverage Events Boost Fox News Audience Numbers
Fox News performed very well during weekends acquiring highest share of total cable news viewership with "Life Liberty and Levin" topping viewership during Saturday while Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo gained dominance on Sunday. Fox news was the network to obtain eight million views for Bret Baier's interview with Vice President Kamala Harris that served to be highest rated interview during the entire presidential election period. FNC showed significant strength among news outlets when covering significant election events with Nielsen data indicating the network had largest viewership from Arizona to Pennsylvania demonstrating trust of voters in the platform. Fox news covered election night having around 13.6 million views along with Vice President Kamala Harris' concession speech drawing eight million viewes all leading among all television outlets and cable news channels. Fox also holds the title of most viewed coverage during the RNC with 10.4 million total viewers plus 2 million key demographic in 10 to 11 pm segment showing audience engagement during live events.
Post-Election Dominance as Fox News Maintains Large Share of Cable Viewership Among Competing Cable News Channels
Following election day and Donald Trump's win Fox News garnered around 73% of viewership in primetime while competitor networks including MSNBC and CNN witnessed a steep decline in viewership. Fox news showed significantly high level of viewership for most shows while covering major news events over course of year and with ongoing coverage and high viewership, FNC established a strong news presence. Brian Flood from Fox News digital is media editor who provides specific information on data results for news channel. All data used was derived from Nielsen Media Research showcasing the strong ratings performance achieved by FNC network.