Here Are Cable News Ratings for June 2023

Below are June 2023 Nielsen ratings for Fox News, MSNBC and CNN, followed by a duo of full basic cable network rankers.

Fox News Channel:

According to Nielsen live plus same day data for June 2023, Fox News Channel averaged 1.09 million total day viewers, 1.49 million total primetime viewers, 135,000 adults 25-54 in primetime and 126,000 adults 25-54 in total day — numbers which represent Fox News’ 28th consecutive month as the top-rated cable news network in total viewers and among Adults 25-54. However, the network’s margin of victory over MSNBC in primetime was as tight as its been in two years.

How about Fox’s place in the overall basic cable landscape? With the NBA playoffs moving over to broadcast, FNC moved back to No. 1 in total primetime viewers (up two spots from May). The network remained No. 1 in total day viewers remained No. 1 in total day viewers, finished No. 12 in the primetime demo (up three spots from May) and No. 3 in the total day demo (up one spot from May).

Fox News struggled in May (by Fox News standards, that is) in the aftermath of Tucker Carlson’s ouster. However, the network saw a positive month-to-month trajectory in June, gaining +5% in average total primetime viewers and +10% in the A25-54 demo, remained flat in total day viewers—and gained +2% in the total day A25-54 demo from May.

The year-over-year ratings trend for Fox News remains quite poor, however. FNC shed -21% in total day viewers—and -40% in total day demo—and -31% in total primetime viewers and lost more than half of its primetime demo audience from June 2022 (-54%).

Fox News managed to have the five six highest-rated cable news shows in the A25-54 demo, and the top five in average total viewers for the month of June.

The Five maintained its status as the most-watched cable news show, averaging 2.62 million total viewers at 5 p.m. The roundtable talk news offering out-performed Jesse Watters Primetime (2.075 million at 7 p.m.), while Hannity (2.06 million), Special Report with Bret Baier (1.83 million) and The Ingraham Angle (1.7 million) round out cable news’ top five in total viewers.

The Five is also the top-rated cable news show among adults 25-54 (271,000), followed by Gutfeld! (234,000), Hannity (213,000), The Ingraham Angle (190,000) and Special Report (187,000) rounding out the top five.

MSNBC

MSNBC might not have caught up to Fox News in June 2023, but, as previously mentioned, the network had a strong month, with its ratings growth driven in part by live coverage of breaking news events like the indictment and subsequent arraignment of ex-President Donald Trump.

MSNBC got closer to Fox News than at any point over the past two years; not just in total primetime viewers (-174,000) but also in Adults 25-54, falling just -4,000 short to Fox (144,000 vs. 148,000).

According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, MSNBC averaged 1.32 million total viewers in primetime, No. 2 overall behind Fox News, and 831,000 total viewers in total day, again No. 2 across basic cable behind only Fox News.

In addition to ranking No. 2 in total primetime viewers (up two spots from May) and No. 2 in total day viewers (up two spots from May) MSNBC ranked No. 14 in the primetime demo (up four spots from May) and No. 11 in the total day demo (flat with May 2023. The network averaged 144,000 A25-54 and 97,000 A25-54 in primetime and total day, respectively.

After losing momentum in May, MSNBC gained back +13% in total primetime viewers—and +20% among adults 25-54, +13% in total day viewers—and +14% in the total day demo in June.

However, while CNN and Fox News faced double-digit declines from the year-ago month, MSNBC continued to deliver double-digit viewership growth across every key daypart in A25-54 and total viewers. The network gained +3% in total primetime viewers, +5% in the primetime demo— and +8% in total day viewers, +13% in the total day demo vs. June 2022.

MSNBC’s The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell is the network’s most-watched daily program of the month (1.68 million viewers million, No. 6 overall), and had its most-watched month since April 2021. Additionally, Alex Wagner Tonight is the network’s top daily show of the month among Adults 25-54 (185,000, No. 7 overall), the show’s top finish since August 2022 launch.

Finally, MSNBC’s All In With Chris Hayes beat Fox News’ 8 p.m. interim offering Fox News Tonight and Anderson Cooper 360 in the A25-54 demo. This is the first time in the history of All In that the show has finished a month at No. 1 in the demo.

CNN

After a difficult stretch which saw its chief executive ousted, CNN saw month to month growth in the ratings, driven in part by live coverage of events such as the indictment and arraignment of ex-President Trump, in-depth coverage of the Titanic submersible story and the short-lived Wagner rebellion in Russia this past weekend.

According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data for June 2023, CNN averaged 635,000 total primetime viewers, No. 8 on basic cable (up six spots from May), and 493,000 total day viewers, No. 4 on basic cable (up one spot from May). The network also averaged 129,000 adults 25-54 in primetime, No. 20 on basic cable (flat from May), and 100,000 adults 25-54 in total day, tied for No. 8 on basic cable with Comedy Central (up four spots from May).

CNN also moved back ahead of MSNBC in the total day demo.

Relative to May, CNN gained back +29% in total primetime viewers—and -14% among adults 25-54, +19% in total day viewers—and +19% among adults 25-54 in total day. Relative to the year-ago month (June 2022), the network is -3% in total primetime viewers, -13% in the primetime demo—and +1% in total day viewers, -4% in the total day demo.

From an individual programming perspective, Anderson Cooper 360 is CNN’s most-watched show for June (833,000; No.26 overall ) and the network’s top-rated show in June among adults 25-54 (165,000; No. 13 overall).

June 2023 cable news network ratings (Nielsen live plus same day data)

June 2023 (Total Viewers)

June 2023 (Adults 25-54)