Here Are the Top-Rated Cable Networks for Q2 2022

By A.J. Katz 

Another quarter, another Nielsen ratings win for Fox News Channel. FNC was the most-watched basic cable network in primetime and in total day for the second quarter of 2022.

According to live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen, Fox News averaged 1.45 million total viewers across the 24-hour day time period (total day) in Q2. That’s -10% from Q1 2021, but +22% from Q2 of ’21. Fox News also averaged 2.27 million total viewers in primetime, which is than -11% from Q1, but +4% from Q2 of 2021.

FNC also averaged 345,000 adults 25-54 in primetime in Q2 ’22, No. 3 on basic cable behind TNT and ESPN, both of which carried the highly-rated NBA playoffs. The network fell -20% from Q1 and -1% in the key demo from Q2 of last year. Additionally, Fox averaged 229,000 adults 25-54 in total day in Q2, which is -19% from what the network posted in Q1, but +12% from Q2 of 2021. Fox News was ranked No. 3 in total day adults 25-54 in Q4 ’21 (behind the aforementioned TNT and ESPN).

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Q1 of this year featured wall-to-wall coverage of the Ukraine war that lasted for weeks. That, compounded with the fact more Americans traditionally watch TV news in Q1 than in Q2, Fox’s quarter-to-quarter decline isn’t shocking. The year-over-year growth, however, is worth touting.

Elsewhere in the cable news universe, MSNBC averaged 684,000 total viewers across the 24-hour day time period (No. 2 on basic cable). That’s a -4% drop from Q1 and a -19% drop from Q2 of last year. The NBCU cable newser was No. 4 in total primetime viewers this past quarter, averaging 1.13 million in the daypart. That’s -6% from Q1, and -23% from Q2 of last year.

The story is worse for MSNBC when it comes to drawing adults 25-54. The network averaged 121,000 adults 25-54 in primetime, which is -19% from Q1 and -39% from Q2 of last year. The network ranked No. 27 in the primetime demo for Q2. Additionally, MSNBC averaged just 77,000 adults 25-54 in total day in Q2, which is -11% from what the network averaged in the daypart in Q1, and -33% from Q2 of last year. MSNBC was ranked No. 23 in total day adults 25-54 in Q2 ’22.

CNN saw more declines than its cable news counterparts, as expected when there’s not a lengthy, major breaking news event on the scale of Ukraine to cover. The network averaged 521,000 total viewers across the 24-hour day time period (total day) in Q2, which places it at No. 6 on basic cable. The 521,000 is -20% from what the network averaged in Q1 and -20% from Q2 of last year. CNN also averaged 670,000 total viewers in primetime, placing it at No. 12. The 670,000 average is -22% from Q1, and -27% from Q2 of last year.

CNN also averaged 155,000 adults 25-54 in primetime in Q2. That’s -33% from Q1 and -31% from Q2 of last year. It was the No. 16 on basic cable in the measurement. Additionally, CNN averaged 113,000 adults 25-54 in total day in Q2 which is -28% from what the network averaged in Q1 and -29% from Q2 of last year. Despite a double digit decline, CNN still ranked among basic cable’s top 10 in adults 25-54 across the total day (No. 10).

On the programming front, Fox News’ The Five was the most-watched cable news show of the fourth quarter, averaging 3.2 million total viewers in the 5 p.m. hour. This represents the first non-primetime program has placed No. 1  in average total viewers for three consecutive quarters. The panel program ranked No. 2 on cable news in the key A25-54 demo behind Tucker Carlson Tonight. TCT was the second-most-watched show on cable news, followed by Hannity, Jesse Watters Primetime and Special Report with Bret Baier.

Q2 ’22 cable news ratings, Monday-Sunday (Nielsen live-same-day data):

TOTAL DAY Fox News MSNBC CNN
• Total Viewers: 1,450,000 684,000 521,000
• A25-54: 229,000 77,000 113,000

 

 

 

PRIME Fox News MSNBC CNN
• Total Viewers: 2,267,000 1,130,000 670,000
• A25-54: 345,000 121,000 155,000

 

 

 

Below, the full cable network rankers. The first one is sorted by most to fewest average total viewers and the second is sorted by most to fewest adults 25-54.

Q2 Cable Network Ranker (Total Viewers)

Q2 Cable Network Ranker (Adults 25-54)

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