Q3 2019 Ratings: Fox News Marks 71 Consecutive Months as the Most-Watched Cable News Network

By A.J. Katz 

Fox News marched through the summer of 2019 as the most-watched cable news network in total day and prime time, marking 71 straight quarters that the network has averaged a larger total audience than CNN and MSNBC.

During Q3 2019, FNC averaged 1.4 million viewers and 230,000 with A25-54 in total day. In prime time, FNC delivered 2.4 million viewers and 366,000 in the 25-54 demographic, notching 46 consecutive quarters as the most-watched cable news channel in the prime time demo (Adults 25-54).

Additionally, Fox News was the most-watched network across all of basic cable, not just cable news, marking 13 straight quarters at No. 1 in total day ( 6 a.m. – 6 a.m. ET).

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Despite the usual dominance over its cable news competitors, not all was well for Fox News on the ratings front. Compared to Q3 of 2018, FNC was -1% in total prime time viewers, -3% in total day viewers. The decline was even steeper among younger news viewers: -19% in the prime time demo, and -15% in total day vs. Q3 2018.

However, one will see that year-over-year dropoff among younger news viewers was even more noticeable over at the other networks.

Here are the ratings for Q3, 2019 (Nielsen Live + Same Day data):

  • Prime time (Mon-Sun): 2,431,000 total viewers / 366,000 A25-54
  • Total Day (Mon-Sun):  1,364,000 total viewers / 230,000 A25-54

On the programming front – Fox News claimed 10 of the top 15 cable news programs in total viewers and 10 of the top 15 in the 25-54 demo.

Hannity was the No. 1 cable news show for Q3, delivering an average of 3.3 million total viewers and 510,000 A25-54 viewers. Tucker Carlson Tonight finished No. 2 across cable news in the key measurements, averaging 3.1 million total viewers and 494,000 A25-54 viewers. The Ingraham Angle finished ahead of MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show in total viewers and among adults 25-54. The Five rounded out the top five in total viewers and adults 25-54.

Special Report with Bret Baier (No. 6), The Story with Martha MacCallum (No. 8), and America’s Newsroom (No. 10) were among the 10-most-watched cable news shows of the quarter in total viewers. Special Report (No. 6), The Story (No. 7), Fox & Friends (No. 9), and Fox News @ Night with Shannon Bream (No. 10) were among the 10-most-watched among adults 25-54.

Additionally, for the 14th straight quarter, FBN’s 7 p.m. program Lou Dobbs Tonight continued its reign as the most-watched program on business television with 295,000 total viewers.  FBN’s live prime time programming featuring Trish Regan Prime Time and (8 p.m.) and Kennedy (9 p.m.) notched year over year increases in viewership,

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