April was a turbulent month for Fox News, but the network still managed to claim eight of the top 10 programs across cable news in total viewers, and 6 of the top 8 in the 25-54 demo.
Additionally, every weekday program on FNC from 5 a.m. – 11 p.m. was up double-digits in both viewers and the 25-54 demo versus April 2016.
The 8 p.m. hour ranked No. 1 in cable news across the board, and grew +15 percent in total viewers and +32 percent in the demo from the April 2016 average in the hour. FNC grew +16 percent in total viewers and +30 percent in the demo during the 9 p.m. hour. Hannity grew +42 percent in total viewers and +42 percent in the demo from last year at 10 p.m.
Rachel Maddow put up huge numbers for MSNBC in April. Maddow hosted the No. 1 regularly-scheduled cable news series of the month among adults 25-54, posting +88 percent growth in the category in the process. That said, she actually finishes behind Fox News’s 8 p.m. hour in the demo if we combine averages for The O’Reilly Factor, The Factor and Tucker Carlson Tonight.
The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell benefited immensely from his Maddow lead-in, and finished ranked No. 8 in total viewers overall (Maddow was No. 6). O’Donnell grew +100 percent in total viewers and +72 percent in the A25-54 demo relative to April 2016. Additionally, All in with Chris Hayes grew +83 percent in total viewers and +71 percent in the demo relative to last year.
Over on CNN, Anderson Cooper 360 was once again the No. 1 show, both in the demo and in total viewers. AC 360 posted +13 percent growth in total viewers and +22 percent growth in the demo relative to last year.
Erin Burnett Outfront was CNN’s second-most-watched show in prime time this past month, posting +23 percent year-over-year growth in total viewers. CNN Tonight with Don Lemon was CNN’s No. 2 prime time show among adults 25-54, and grew +39 percent in the category from the previous April. The 5-7 p.m. edition of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer ranked ahead of Outfront and CNN Tonight in total viewers, no small feat for an early-evening program. It also posted +31 percent total viewer growth from April 2016.
Looking at the cable news morning race, Fox & Friends easily finished No. 1 across the board. Not only that, but the program delivered the most growth of any high-profile Fox News show: +54 percent in total viewers and +76 percent in the A25-54 demo.
Morning Joe once again defeated New Day in total audience (907,000 vs. 623,000), but New Day beat Joe in the ad-friendly A25-54 demo (227,000 vs. 210,000). MJ posted +52 percent growth in total viewers and +34 percent growth in the demo relative to last year, while New Day delivered +42 percent growth in total viewers but +68 percent growth in the demo relative to last year.
Program Ranker: April 2017 (Total Viewers)
Program Ranker: April 2017 (A25-54)