Here Are the Top Cable News Shows of Q2 2019

By A.J. Katz 

As was true in Q2 one year ago, Sean Hannity was the top cable news host in Q2 2019 across all relevant categories.  Rachel Maddow was No. 1 among adults 25-54 in Q1 of this year, but Hannity was able to reclaim the throne in that important demo this quarter.

Maddow, who finished No. 2 across the board in Q2 2018, finished third this past quarter behind Tucker Carlson Tonight in the key measurements.

Speaking of Carlson, his 8 p.m. show posted +5% growth in total viewers vs. Q2 2018. The network’s 5 p.m. show, aptly named The Five, also saw year-over-year growth, ironically enough, of +5%.

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No other top 10 cable news programs posted year-over-year total audience growth.

As a network, Fox News had seven of the top 10 programs in cable news, and eight of the top 10 among adults 25-54.

MSNBC’s All in with Chris Hayes slipped out of the A25-54 top 10 after finishing among the top 10 in the demo during Q2 of last year. However, the MSNBC 8 p.m. show finished No. 9 this quarter in total viewers.

24 of the 25-most-watched cable news shows for the quarter aired either on Fox News or MSNBC. 20 of the top 25 programs among adults 25-54 aired on either Fox News.

CNN had five shows fall within cable news’ top 25 among adults 25-54, with Cuomo Prime Time leading the way as CNN’s No. 1 program for the quarter. Hosted by Chris Cuomo, the 9 p.m. program ranked No. 25 in cable news in total viewers (910,000) and No. 15 among adults 25-54 (223,000).

Here, a look at the top 10 cable news shows of the quarter:

TOTAL VIEWERS (Nielsen Live+SD data) / vs. Q2 ’18 / # of Telecasts

  1. Hannity (3,151,000) / -6% / 54 telecasts
  2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (2,822,000) / +5% / 62 telecasts
  3. The Rachel Maddow Show (2,561,000) / -7% / 61 telecasts
  4. The Ingraham Angle (2,428,000) / -9% / 60 telecasts
  5. The Five (2,336,000) / +5% / 64 telecasts
  6. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (2,010,000) / -8% / 60 telecasts
  7. Special Report with Bret Baier (2,008,000) / -4% / 65 telecasts
  8. The Story with Martha MacCallum (1,760,000) / -11% / 65 telecasts
  9. All In with Chris Hayes (1,552,000) / -12% / 62 telecasts
  10. America’s Newsroom (1,531,000) / -6% / 197 telecasts

ADULTS 25-54 (Nielsen Live+SD data) / vs. Q2 ’18 / # of Telecasts

  1. Hannity (505,000) / -26% / 54 telecasts
  2. Tucker Carlson Tonight (477,000) / -12% / 62 telecasts
  3. The Rachel Maddow Show (396,000) / -29% / 61 telecasts
  4. The Ingraham Angle (387,000) / -29% / 60 telecasts
  5. The Five (355,000) / -12% / 64 telecasts
  6. Special Report with Bret Baier (324,000) / -18% / 65 telecasts
  7. The Story with Martha MacCallum (299,000) / -23% / 65 telecasts
  8. The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell (280,000) / -33% / 60 telecasts
  9. Fox News @ Night with Shannon Bream (274,000) / -25% / 67 telecasts
  10. Fox & Friends (268,000) / -19% / 195 telecasts

Cable news morning show ratings: Q2 ’19 (Nielsen live-plus-same-day data)

Total Viewers / A25-54

  • Fox & Friends : 1,435,000/ 268,000
  • Morning Joe:  1,033,000 / 164,000
  • New Day: 459,000 / 125,000

Q2 2019 Cable News Show Ranker (Total Viewers)

 

Q2 2019 Cable News Show Ranker (A25-54)

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