Fox News may no longer be the go-to cable news network for adults 25-54 on weeknights, but for the 185th consecutive month, the network reigns supreme when it comes to total viewers and the news demo across total day and during Monday – Sunday prime time.
For the past 11 months, Fox News has been the most-watched cable network in total day and finished the month of May as the No. 2 prime time cable network in total viewers, behind only TNT.
FNC posted double-digit year-over-year audience growth in May 2017. The network was up +11 percent in total prime time viewers and up +23 percent in the prime time demo compared to its May 2016 ratings performance. The network was also up +22 percent in total day viewers and up +40 percent in the total day demo from the previous May.
The numbers for May 2017 (Nielsen live-plus-same-day data):
- Prime time (Mon-Sun): 2,244,000 total viewers / 453,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 1,423,000 total viewers / 302,000 A25-54
During the month of May, FNC claimed seven of the top 10 cable programs in total viewers and three of the top five in the 25-54 demo. Tucker Carlson Tonight was the top program in all of cable news in total viewers, edging Rachel Maddow by a slim margin. Carlson also earned the two most-watched non-sports telecasts for the month across cable. Carlson’s program was down -12 percent in total viewers, but up +7 in the news demo versus what Bill O’Reilly‘s program delivered the previous May.
Now at 9 p.m., The Five was down -5 percent in total viewers, and up +9 percent in the news demo compared to what Megyn Kelly drew last year in the 9 p.m. hour.
Hannity at 10 p.m. and Special Report with Bret Baier at 6 p.m. posted year-over-year growth in total viewers and among A25-54.