Fox News Channel wrapped up another quarter as the most-watched network on cable television, running its streak in total day to 12 consecutive quarters at No. 1, and 70 consecutive quarters at No. 1 in cable news.
It was also the most-watched basic cable network for the quarter in prime time.
Fox News had double digit percent advantages over its main cable news competition –MSNBC and CNN– in both total viewers and adults 25-54, as well as triple digit percent advantages over CNN in total prime time viewers.
Additionally, the network claimed seven of the top 10 cable news programs in total viewers and eight of the top in the 25-54 demo for the quarter. FNC’s evening and prime time programs were among the top four shows in total viewers and adults 25-54.
Despite all of that dominance, not everything was peachy for Fox News on the ratings front. The network was -2% in total prime time viewers and -6% in total day viewers vs. Q2 2018. Similar to its competition, the trend was more ominous in the A25-54 category: -22% in prime time and -21% in the total day vs. Q2 of last year.
Younger news viewers are increasingly leaving cable news, not just Fox. Will they return for 2020?
Here are Fox News’ ratings for Q2 of 2019:
- Prime time (Mon-Sun): 2,387,000 total viewers / 373,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 1,322,000 total viewers / 227,000 A25-54
On the Fox News programming front – Sean Hannity was the No. 1 cable news host for the quarter in total viewers and among adults 25-54, averaging 3.15 million total viewers and 505,000 A25-54 for 54 original/non-special telecasts.
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow was No. 1 in the demo last quarter. Not the case this quarter.
Other key ratings wins for the network included Tucker Carlson Tonight throttling its 8 p.m. timeslot competition, and finishing No. 2 in cable news across the board. The Five won the 5 p.m. timeslot by a dominant margin. Laura Ingraham‘s The Ingraham Angle finished No. 1 in the 10 p.m. hour across the board.
Fox News @ Night with Shannon Bream averaged 274,000 adults 25-54, +40,000 more than MSNBC’s 11th Hour with Brian Williams.
Additionally, Fox & Friends marked 70 consecutive quarters as the highest-rated morning show in cable news with 1,435,000 viewers and 268,000 in the demo.