Fox News remained on top of the cable news leaderboard in August, marking 140 months at #1 in total viewers and drawing more viewers than MSNBC, CNN and HLN combined in both total day and primetime. But the network declined across the board year-over-year and posted its lowest ratings in the A25-54 demographic since August 2001 in both total day and primetime.
The ratings for August 2013 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):
- Primetime (Mon-Sun): 1,543,000 total viewers / 251,000 A25-54
- Total Day Mon-Sun): 968,000 total viewers / 192,000 A25-54
Compared to August 2012, Fox News was down -10% in total viewers and -24% in the A25-54 demographic in total day. In primetime, the network was down -15% and -24%, respectively. The network was down in both total viewers and the A25-54 demographic in every hour of programming from 9am-11pmET, except for “The Five,” which was flat in total viewers and down -25% in the demo.
In its last full month before Elisabeth Hasselbeck takes over as co-host, “Fox & Friends” was down -3% in total viewers and -23% in the demo. In primetime, which the network also plans to shake up this fall, “The O’Reilly Factor,” “Hannity” and “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” were down for the month compared to August 2012: Bill O’Reilly’s program was down -9% in total viewers and -25% in the demo, while Sean Hannity’s show was down -21% in total viewers and -26% in the demo. “On the Record” was down -20% in both ratings measurements.
Despite the year-over-year losses, Fox News notched the top 13 programs in total viewers and the top 11 programs in the demo in all of cable news this month.