It’s been a consistently unpredictable election cycle and no network has benefited more than Fox News Channel.
For the first time in its history, Fox News was the most-watched basic cable network in total day and prime time for the entire first quarter of 2016. The network has spent 10 consecutive weeks as the most-watched cable network in total day. Not only was Fox News cable’s most-watched network during the aforementioned dayparts, it delivered solid numbers relative to the first quarter of 2015.
Below are the network’s average live+ same day impressions for Q1 2016 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):
- Prime time (Mon-Sun): 2,373,000 total viewers / 483,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 1,351,000 total viewers / 271,000 A25-54
In prime time, FNC was up +38 percent in total viewers versus Q1 2015 and up +50 percent in adults 25-54.
In total day, FNC was up +27 percent total viewers versus Q1 2015, and up +30 percent in adults 25-54.
FNC sister net Fox Business had a strong quarter in its own right. Its total audience during business day, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., rose 111% from a year earlier to average 134,000 viewers.
Fox News Channel was home to the 14 most-watched cable news programs for the quarter, and nine of top ten highest-rated cable news programs among adults 25-54. On the Record with Greta van Susteren was up 12% in total viewers (2,087,000) and delivered its second highest-rated quarter since moving to the 7PM/ET timeslot. The O’Reilly Factor remained #1 in cable news and experienced its most-watched and highest-rated quarter since 2012; The Kelly File experienced its most-watched quarter since its 2013 launch; Hannity was up the most in total viewers (+35 percent), and adults 25-54 (+39 percent) from Q1 2015; Special Report with Bret Baier notched its second most-watched quarter ever (2.3 million viewers).