Fox News Channel is once again the No. 1 basic cable news outlet in average total viewers, both in total day and also in primetime.
According to live plus same day data from Nielsen, FNC averaged 2.1 million total viewers in primetime this past week, No. 1 on basic cable for the 10th consecutive week, but -2% from the prior week. In the adults 25-54 demo, the network came in second place on basic cable, averaging 268,000 in primetime, down -3% from the week prior and behind TBS (313,000). Fox News had a strong week when it came to viewing in total day. The network’s 1.41 million total viewer average in the daypart not only is No. 1 on basic cable, it’s also a +2.5% gain from the week prior. The network averaged 199,000 in the adults 25-54 demo in total day, No. 1 in basic cable and up +9% from last week.
CNN averaged 656,000 total viewers in primetime during the week of August 1, up +6% from the week prior—placing the network at No. 3 in cable news and No. 8 in basic cable. Its viewership in the demo in primetime (133,000) placed it at No. 22 on basic cable and +3% from the week prior.
CNN also saw week-to-week gains in total day viewing, +5% in total viewers (511,000) and +6% in the key A25-54 demo (101,000). The network placed No. 4 on basic cable in total day viewers and No. 10 in the total day demo.
MSNBC remained the second most-watched network on basic cable in total viewers, averaging 978,000 total viewers in primetime and 670,000 in total day for the week of Aug. 1. The 978,000 is -14% from what MSNBC averaged in primetime the prior week, while the 670,000 is -3% from what the network averaged in total day the prior week. MSNBC also averaged 103,000 adults 25-54 in primetime, No. 30 on basic cable—and +2% from the prior week. MSNBC averaged just 78,000 adults 25-54 in total day, which is +10% from the prior week and No. 23 on basic cable.
How did the “big three” cable news networks fare year-over-year (week of Aug. 2, 2021)? Fox News gained +.01% in total primetime viewers but lost -12% in the A25-54 demo. The story was better for Fox when it came to total day viewing, with the network gaining +18% in total viewers and +11% in the demo vs. the same week in 2021. CNN, on the other hand, saw a -5% drop in total primetime viewers and -11% in the demo, as well as a -3% drop in total day viewers and a -8% drop in total day demo. MSNBC lost -6% in total primetime viewers, -23% in the primetime demo and decreased -1% in total day—and shed -15% in the total day demo vs. the year-ago week.
Week of August 1 cable news ratings, Monday-Sunday (Nielsen live-same-day data):
| PRIME TIME | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 2,098,000 | 978,000 | 656,000 |
| • A25-54: | 268,000 | 103,000 | 133,000 |
| TOTAL DAY | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 1,413,000 | 670,000 | 511,000 |
| • A25-54: | 199,000 | 78,000 | 101,000 |
On the programming front, Fox News’ The Five was the most-watched show of the week for a remarkable eighth consecutive week (3.15 million at 5 p.m.), followed by Tucker Carlson Tonight (3.10 million at 8 p.m.), Jesse Watters Primetime (2.64 million at 7 p.m.), Hannity (2.54 million at 9 p.m.) and Special Report with Bret Baier (2.225 million at 9 p.m.) rounding out the top five. Tucker Carlson Tonight (454,000), The Five (414,000), Gutfeld! (318,000), Jesse Watters Primetime (314,000) and Hannity (311,000) were the top five on cable news among adults 25-54.
Fox News is home to the week’s top six cable shows in total viewers and top 14 in the key A25-54 demo. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show came in at No. 7 on cable news in total viewers (2.155 million at 9 p.m.), and No. 15 among adults 25-54 (190,000).
Below, the basic cable network rankers: