Fox News is once again the most-watched network on basic cable. FNC won the total viewer basic cable ratings race in total day for the 14th consecutive month, and was the most-watched in prime time for the sixth out of the past eight months. With a total viewer victory in August 2017, Fox News has become the most-watched cable news network in total day and prime time for 188 consecutive months.
FNC also posted year-over-year audience growth in all relevant dayparts, including +6 percent in total prime time viewers, +25 percent in the prime time A25-54 demo, +7 percent in total day viewers, and +29 percent in the total day A25-54 demo. That’s less year-over-year growth than its cable news competitors, but still enough to push the network it to No. 1.
The ratings for August 2017:
- Prime time (Mon-Sun): 2,206,000 Total Viewers / 466,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 1,345,000 Total Viewers / 303,000 A25-54
On the programming front, FNC’s signature morning show (and President Trump’s favorite) Fox & Friends marked 190 months as the most-watched cable news program in its timeslot, and posted double-digit audience growth versus August 2016.
Tucker Carlson Tonight remains No. 1 in the 8 p.m. hour by a comfortable margin. Hannity had a strong month in the 10 p.m. hour. His was the network’s most-watched program for the month of August.
The ratings performance for Fox News Specialists, however, caused the network to lose its stranglehold on the 5 p.m. hour among adults 25-54. But the program still finished the month No. 1 in total viewers at 5 p.m.
Fox Business posted double digit audience growth from last year, +16 percent in prime time viewers, and +22 percent in total day viewers.
FBN defeated CNBC in Business Day (M-F, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.) total viewers for the 10th straight month. But CNBC continues to set the standard as No. 1 across business news in prime time and in total sales day.