Q1 2013 Ratings: Fox News #1 For 45 Quarters

By Merrill Knox 

Fox News continued its dominant hold of the leaderboard in the first quarter of 2013, marking 45 consecutive quarters as the highest-rated cable news network. But like CNN and MSNBC, Fox News is down for the quarter.

The ratings for Q1 2013 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):

  • Primetime (Mon-Sun): 1,731,000 Total Viewers / 279,000 A25-54
  • Total Day (Mon-Sun): 1,065,000 Total Viewers / 214,000 A25-54

Compared to the same quarter last year, Fox News is flat in Total Viewers and down -18% in the A25-54 demographic in Total Day. In primetime, the network is down -9% in Total Viewers and -34% in the demo. It should be noted that the first quarter of 2012, ratings for the cable news networks got a boost from debates and political primaries during the Presidential election cycle.

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“The Fox Report with Shepard Smith” celebrates a major milestone this month, ranking first in Total Viewers for 50 consecutive quarters. “Fox & Friends,” “Your World with Neil Cavuto” and “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren” have been number one in their respective time slots for 45 consecutive quarters.

Like the competition, the network has lost viewers in primetime compared to the year-ago quarter. “The O’Reilly Factor” is flat in Total Viewers and down -26% in the demo. (Note: percentages are based on a blend of Live +7 and Live +3 data.) “Hannity” is down -5% and -28%, while “On the Record” is down -13% and -35%, respectively.

Despite declines among younger viewers, Fox News grew in Total Viewers in the late afternoon programming. “Your World” is up +3%, “The Five” is up +21% and “Special Report with Bret Baier” is up +7% compared to the same quarter last year.

As for the monthly ratings: compared to the same month last year, Fox News was up +6% in Total Viewers and down -16% in A25-54 viewers in Total Day and down -5% and -29%, respectively, in primetime. The network has been the highest-rated cable news network in Total Viewers for 135 months straight.

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