July 2016 Ratings: Fox News Is Most-Watched Cable Network

By A.J. Katz 

Fox News finished July 2016 as basic cable’s most-watched network both in prime time and total day. This is the third time this year that Fox News has been No. 1 in both dayparts. Prior to this year, Fox News had never been basic cable’s most-watched network for more than 2 months out of a calendar year.

The ratings for July 2016:

  • Prime time (Mon-Sun):  2,833,000 Total Viewers /  557,000 A25-54
  • Total Day (Mon-Sun):  1,576,000 Total Viewers /  315,000 A25-54

Fox News improved 61 percent in total day viewers and 68 percent in the key 25-54 demo this past month from July 2015.  The prime time lineup was up 74 percent in total viewers and up 77 percent in A25-54. The network also delivered the 11-most-watched basic cable telecasts for the month of July.

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Throughout the month of July, every FNC program was up double-digits year-over-year and topped the cable news competition in both total viewers and A25-54. On the Record with Greta Van Susteren was up 56 percent in total viewers and 67 percent in A25-54, making it the program’s highest-rated month since it launched in October 2013. The O’Reilly Factor marked 188 months as the most-watched show in cable news. The Kelly File had a huge July in its own right, delivering its most-watched month since launch. Kelly topped all cable news programs for the month in the key 25-54 demographic. Hannity garnered its most-watched month since the new prime time launch, and improved 67 percent from its July 2015 average.

Leading into prime time, The Five and Special Report with Bret Baier both delivered their second most-watched months in their respective series history.

In terms of daytime – Fox & Friends delivered its most-watched month in more than three years (since November 2012). America’s Newsroom, with co-anchors Bill Hemmer and Martha MacCallum, earned its most-watched month since the program’s launch in 2007. Outnumbered delivered its best month in both total viewers and the key demo since its inception in 2014. Additionally, Shepard Smith Reporting delivered its top month in total viewers and A25-54.

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