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Q3 2022 Ratings: Fox News Marks 83 Consecutive Quarters at Top of Primetime Cable News Heap

By A.J. Katz 

Fox News Channel was the most-watched network on all of basic cable in total day and in primetime for the third quarter of 2022. With Americans tuning into the network’s coverage of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the FBI raid of Trump’s estate, and more, Fox News also marked its 83rd consecutive quarter averaging more total viewers in primetime than its cable news competitors.

According to live plus same day data from Nielsen for Q3 2022, FNC averaged 1.41 million total viewers in total day and 2.19 million total viewers in prime time. The network also averaged 294,000 adults 25-54 in primetime and 201,000 adults 25-54 in total day, No. 2 on basic cable only behind ESPN.

How do those figures fare relative to the previous quarter’s and the year-ago quarter’s? Well, Fox shed -3% in total primetime viewers and -15% among primetime adults 25-54, -3% in total day viewers and -12% among total day adults 25-54 relative to the prior quarter (Q2 2022). The results were more mixed when compared to the most-recent third quarter (Q3 2021). The network gained +4% in total day viewers, but shed -11% in the total day demo, -22% in the primetime demo and -8% in total primetime viewers from the year-ago quarter.

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Below are the Q3 2022 Nielsen live+same-day numbers:

  • Prime Time (Mon-Sun): 2,189,000 Total Viewers / 294,000 A25-54
  • Total Day (Mon-Sun):  1,406,000 Total Viewers / 201,000 A25-54

On the programming front, Fox News delivered the seven-most-watched shows on cable newsled by The Fiveand the top 15 in the advertiser-preferred A25-54 demo for the third quarter, led by Tucker Carlson Tonight.

Fox News’ late-night program Gutfeld! averaged roughly 2.1 million total viewers and 339,000 adults 25-54 from 11 p.m.-12 a.m., its most-watched quarter in series history. Gutfeld! posted double-digit percent growth since the same quarter last year in total viewers and was up with A25-54.

Finally, Fox Business delivered its most-watched quarter in business day since 2020, averaging 227,000 viewers in the weekday 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET daypart, +37% from Q3 of last year.

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