The presidential debate on Oct. 22 drove significant viewership growth for MSNBC and CNN as well.

5.3 million viewers on average for Carlson. A number of other cable news shows hit monthly audience records of their own, as interest in cable news increases in the weeks and days before the election.

An average of 7.3 million viewers watched network's 9 p.m. hour, which featured coverage of Judge Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation and swearing in as Supreme Court Justice. MSNBC took second place in prime time.