New quarter, same result: Fox News Channel was the most-watched basic cable network in the 24-hour daypart, while ESPN averaged the most adults 25-54 in total day and in primetime.
According to live-plus-same-day data from Nielsen for Q4 2022. FNC averaged 1.45 million total viewers across the 24-hour day time period (total day), which represents a +2% from Q3 2022 and +1% from Q4 of 2021. FNC averaged 2.22 million total viewers in primetime, No. 2 on basic cable behind ESPN (which averaged 2.69 million). Fox’s 2.22 million average is up +3% from Q3 ’22 but -6% from Q4 of ’21.
Fox News also averaged 296,000 adults 25-54 in primetime in Q4 ’22, No. 3 on basic cable behind ESPN and TBS, +1% from the Summer of 2022 quarter but a -19% decline from Q4 of the prior year. Additionally, Fox averaged 201,000 adults 25-54 in total day in Q4 ’22, which is steady with what the network posted in Q3 ’22, but down -15% from Q4 ’21. Fox News was ranked No. 2 in total day adults 25-54 in Q4 ’22 behind ESPN.
Elsewhere in the cable news universe, MSNBC averaged 757,000 total viewers across the 24-hour day time period, No. 3 on all of basic cable. The 757,000 average represents a -3% decline from Q3 ’22 but a +13% gain from Q4 of ’21. Additionally, MSNBC ranks No. 20 on basic cable among the total day demo in Q4, averaging 86,000 A25-54 in the time period. That represents a +2% gain from the summer quarter and a +12% gain from the year ago quarter.
Moving to MSNBC primetime, the network averaged 1.21 million total viewers, No. 3 on all of basic cable in the daypart. The 1.21 million average is a -5% loss from the summer quarter but a +4% gain from the year ago quarter. The network also averaged 130,000 adults 25-54 in primetime, which is a +2% gain from Q3 ’22, but a -6% decline from Q4 ’21 and No. 25 among all basic cable outlets.
CNN averaged 529,000 total viewers across the 24-hour day time period (total day) in Q4 ’22, which places it at No. 5 on basic cable. The 529,000 is -5% from what the network averaged in Q3 ’22 but is +8% from the year ago quarter. Additionally, the network averaged 109,000 adults 25-54 in total day in Q4 ’22, which is -1% from what the network averaged in the daypart in Q3 but +6% from Q4 ’21, and No. 9 among all basic cable outlets.
Moving to primetime, CNN averaged 646,000 total viewers in primetime, placing it at No. 8 on all of basic cable. The 646,000 average is -10% from Q3 ’22, but +1% from Q4 of ’21. The network averaged 149,000 adults 25-54 in primetime in Q4 ’22, which is -1% from Q3 ’22, but +8% from Q4 ’21, and No. 21 among all basic cable outlets.
MSNBC and CNN posted year-over-year gains in Q4, likely driven by live coverage of special, newsworthy events. Fox News, on the other hand, saw year-over-year viewer losses, but posted gains from the prior quarter and continues to dominate its rivals generally in the Nielsen ratings department.
Q4 2022 cable news ratings, Monday-Sunday (Nielsen live-same-day data):
| PRIME | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 2,224,000 | 1,211,000 | 646,000 |
| • A25-54: | 296,000 | 130,000 | 149,000 |
| TOTAL DAY | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 1,453,000 | 757,000 | 529,000 |
| • A25-54: | 201,000 | 86,000 | 109,000 |
Lastly, the basic cable rankers for Q4 2022, sorted by most to fewest viewers.