It was good to be the Fox News Channel in Q3 2015. The network, for the first time ever, placed first among all basic cable channels in prime time for the full quarter, outpacing ESPN. FNC also improved for the third consecutive quarter in prime time, posting double-digit increases (+10 percent in total viewers and +28 percent in the adults 25-54 demo vs. Q3 2014).
The ratings for Q3, 2015 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):
- Prime time (Mon-Sun): 1,952,000 total viewers / 305,000 A25-54
- Total Day (Mon-Sun): 1,090,000 total viewers / 211,000 A25-54
The network made history with record ratings for the first Republican presidential debate, delivering 24 million total viewers and 7.9 million viewers in the demo–the most-watched non-sports cable program ever.
All of FNC’s programs in prime grew in the demo and among total viewers vs. Q3 2014, with Fox News beating CNN and MSNBC combined. The O’Reilly Factor had its best quarter since Q4 2012 among total viewers, and both The Kelly File and Hannity had their highest-rated quarter in total viewers and in the demo since FNC launched its current prime lineup in October 2013.