As usual, Fox News was the top-rated cable news channel in October, closing in on 12 straight years at number one in total day and primetime. Fox News ranked third in primetime and fourth in total day among all ad-supported cable channels for the month. But like its competition, the network was down across the board year-over-year.
The ratings for October 2013 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):
- Primetime (Mon-Sun): 1,862,000 total viewers / 323,000 A25-54
- Total Day Mon-Sun): 1,143,000 total viewers / 238,000 A25-54
Compared to the same month last year, Fox News is down -28% in total viewers and -37% in the A25-54 demographic in total day. In primetime, the network is down -46% and -59%, respectively. October 2012 was a busy news month with final weeks of the 2012 elections and the start of Hurricane Sandy coverage (though landfall occurred outside the Oct. 2012 ratings period), propelling Fox News to the top cable channel for the month for the first time in seven years.
Since FNC’s new primetime lineup debuted October 7, the network is up across the board compared to the third quarter of 2013. In total day, Fox News is up +12% in total viewers and +10% in the A25-54 demographic, and in primetime, it is up +17% and +14%, respectively. In the same time period, “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” at 7pmET is up +20% in total viewers and +19% in the demo and “Hannity” at 10pmET is up +23% and +26%, respectively, compared to Q3 2013.
In its debut month, Megyn Kelly’s “The Kelly File” was the number two program in cable news, averaging 2,233,000 total viewers and 383,000 A25-54 viewers. Compared to the same month last year, however, the 9pmET hour was down -32% in total viewers and -44% in the A25-54 demographic. “The O’Reilly Factor” was also down in both ratings measurements, -28% in total viewers and -41% in the A25-54 demographic.
“The Five” delivered a monthly high in the demo for the year, averaging 369,000 A25-54 viewers. “Fox & Friends” (in Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s first full month as host) and “Special Report with Bret Baier” both posted their second-highest performance for the year in the demo, averaging 264,000 viewers and 348,000 viewers, respectively.