Q1 2018 Ratings: Fox News Remains No. 1 on Cable Television

By A.J. Katz 

Another quarter, another win for Fox News in total viewers.

FNC was the most-watched basic cable network for Q1 2018, both in prime time and in total day. That’s now 7 straight quarter victories in total day. Additionally, FNC is a top five basic cable network for six consecutive quarters with the 25-54 demo in total day.

Despite being the most-watched cable network in total day, and the most-watched cable news network in all relevant dayparts for the 65th straight quarter (since 2002), FNC was down double digits versus Q1 2017, Fox News’s most-watched quarter ever, and the infancy of the Trump administration. Fox News was -13 percent in total viewers and -14 percent in demo viewers during prime time, and -16 percent in total viewers and -16 percent in demo viewers in total day (6 a.m. – 6 a.m.).

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Below are Fox News’s average live+ same day numbers for Q1 2018:

  • Prime time (Mon-Sun): 2,479,000 total viewers / 494,000 A25-54
  • Total Day (Mon-Sun):  1,445,000 total viewers /  300,000 A25-54

On the prime time programming front – Sean Hannity continued his reign as the most-watched cable news host, and his was the only program which managed to eclipse 3,000 total viewers in Q1. But MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow is the most-watched cable news host among adults 25-54, the demo which matters most to TV news advertisers. But Maddow’s margin of victory in the demo was extremely slim. She beat Hannity by just 2,000 demo viewers, according to Nielsen live+same-day data.

Tucker Carlson managed to dominate the 8 p.m. time slot, while Laura Ingraham won 10 p.m., both in total viewers and 25-54 demo viewers.

Fox News still managed to claim 14 of the top 20 cable news programs in total viewers and 12 of the top 20 in the 25-54 demo.

Below, a basic cable network ranker for Q1:

Basic Cable Ranker: 1Q’18 (Total Viewers)

Lastly, here’s more from Fox News’s press release:

FOX NEWS CHANNEL CONTINUES TO TOP CABLE NEWS LANDSCAPE IN BOTH TOTAL DAY AND PRIMETIME FOR 65 CONSECUTIVE QUARTERS

FNC Dominates All of Basic Cable in Total Day for Seven Quarters in a Row

Hannity Crushes 1Q’2018 As Most-Watched Program on Cable News

FOX News Channel (FNC) continuing its dominance, marked 65 consecutive quarters as the highest-rated cable news channel in both total day and primetime with P2+, according to Nielsen Media Research. In total day, FNC also led basic cable in total viewers, notching seven quarters in a row as the highest-rated basic cable network in total day. Additionally, FNC has been a top five basic cable network for six consecutive quarters with the 25-54 demographic in total day.

During 1Q’18, FNC averaged 1,445,000 million in total viewers and 300,000 with A25-54 in total day. In primetime, FNC delivered 2,479,000 in total viewers and 494,000 in the 25-54 demographic. Additionally, FNC outpaced MSNBC and CNN in both primetime and total day with P2+ and A25-54.

Additionally, the network claimed 14 of the top 20 cable news programs in total viewers and 12 of the top 20 in the 25-54 demo. FNC’s primetime programs were among the top four programs in both total viewers and with A25-54 demo with Hannity ranking as the most-watched program in all of cable news with 3,196,000 in total viewers and 662,000 in the 25-54 demo, Tucker Carlson Tonight boasted 2,908,000 in total viewers and 586,000 in the demo and The Ingraham Angle averaged 2,487,000 total viewers and 505,000 in the 25-54 demo.

Kicking off the day, at 5AM/ET, FOX & Friends First averaged 666,000 in total viewers and 175,000 in the 25-54 demo. The network’s signature morning program, FOX & Friends (6-9AM/ET), delivered 1,533,000 in total viewers and 345,000 in the 25-54 demographic. At 9AM/ET, America’s Newsroom averaged 1,751,000 with P2+ and 318,000 in the younger 25-54 demo. FNC’s afternoon ensemble program, Outnumbered (12PM/ET), garnered 1,642,000 in total viewers and 305,000 in the demo. At 1PM/ET, Outnumbered Overtime averaged 1,498,000 in total viewers and 305,000 in the 25-54 demographic. The Daily Briefing at 2PM/ET delivered 1,454,000 in total viewers and 291,000 with A25-54. At 3PM/ET, Shepard Smith Reporting delivered 1,437,000 in total viewers and 293,000 in the demo. At 4PM/ET, Your World with Neil Cavuto garnered 1,494,000 million with P2+ and 285,000 viewers with A25-54.

Among FNC’s evening and primetime programming, The Five (5PM/ET) averaged 2,343,000 in total viewers and delivered 431,000 in the 25-54 demo. At 6PM/ET, Special Report with Bret Baier delivered 2,361,000 in total viewers and 443,000 in the 25-54 demo. The Story with Martha MacCallum at 7PM/ET averaged 2,175,000 with P2+ and 439,000 in the younger 25-54 demo. At 8PM/ET, Tucker Carlson Tonight delivered 2,908,000 in total viewers and 586,000 in the demo. The Ingraham Angle at 10PM/ET garnered 2,487,000 in total viewers and 505,000 in the 25-54 demographic. At 9PM/ET, Hannity delivered 3,196,000 in total viewers and 662,000 in the 25-54 demo, topping all of cable news with P2+.

RATINGS FOR THE TOP FIVE PROGRAMS IN CABLE NEWS:

Total Viewers: Hannity (3,196,000), Rachel Maddow Show (2,993,000) Tucker Carlson Tonight (2,908,000), The Ingraham Angle (2,487,000), Special Report with Bret Baier (2,361,000)

Adults 25-54: The Rachel Maddow Show (664,000), Hannity (662,000), Tucker Carlson Tonight (586,000), The Ingraham Angle (505,000), Last Word with O’Donnell (492,000)

1Q’18 VS. 1Q’17 NIELSEN NUMBERS (7 day week, L+SD):

TOTAL DAY
FNC: 1,445,000 total viewers – down 16% (300,000 in 25-54 – down 16%)
CNN: 713,000 total viewers – down 13% (232,000 in 25-54 – down 12%)
Mthe SNBC: 1,008,000 total viewers – up 30% (221,000 in 25-54 – up 21%)

PRIMETIME: 8-11PM/ET
FNC: 2,479,000 total viewers – down 13% (494,000 in 25-54 – down 14%)
CNN: 985,000 total viewers – down 17% (341,000 in 25-54 – down 16%)
MSNBC: 1,859,000 total viewers – up 30% (405,000 in 25-54 – up 20%)

FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-hour all-encompassing news service dedicated to delivering breaking news as well as political and business news. The number one network in cable, FNC has been the most watched television news channel for 16 years and according to a Gallup/Knight Foundation Survey, is the most objective information source in the country. Owned by 21st Century Fox, FNC is available in more than 90 million homes and dominates the cable news landscape, routinely notching the top ten programs in the genre.

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