Fox News Channel was the most-watched network — on broadcast and on cable — during coverage of the midterm elections. Fox News beat CNN and MSNBC in both total viewers and the A25-54 demo, combined during primetime hours. The cable networks were all down compared to the 2010 Midterm elections: Fox News was down -9% in viewers and down -31% in the demo; CNN was down -13% in viewers and down -12% in the demo; and MSNBC was also down -13% in viewers and down -22% in the demo.
At 10pmET, when the broadcast networks aired special reports, Fox News averaged 6.6 million viewers, topping No. 2 CBS which averaged 5.4 million viewers. This marks the first time during election coverage that Fox News topped all the broadcast networks in the A25-54 demo.
- 10pmET: (Total Viewers | A25-54 demo)
FNC: 6,607,000 / 1,825,000 A25-54
CBS: 5,408,000 / 1,548,000 in 25-54
NBC: 4,225,000 / 1,484,000 in 25-54
ABC: 3,147,000 / 1,083,000 in 25-54
CNN: 1,936,000 / 912,000 in 25-54
MSNBC: 1,594,000 / 566,000 in 25-54
- 8pmET – 11pmET:
FNC: 6,310,000 / 1,662,000
CNN: 2,107,000 / 909,000
MSNBC: 1,687,000 / 525,000