Fox News, once again, dominated the cable news rankings in 2021. This time, it was Tucker Carlson, not Sean Hannity, whose show averaged the largest total audience on cable news. Fox News’ 8 p.m. offering Tucker Carlson Tonight eclipsed Fox News’ 9 p.m. show Hannity in 2021, having averaged 3.21 million total viewers. Hannity, meanwhile, dropped to No. 3 in total viewers, averaging 2.87 million in 2021. Hannity had been the the most-watched show on cable news from 2017-2020.
So, who finished between Carlson and Hannity? That would be Fox News’ 5 p.m. panel show The Five, which posted an average of 2.94 million in 2021. The Five’s performance represents the first time a non-primetime program was the second-most-watched show for a calendar year in cable news history.
Overall, Fox News is home to seven of the 10 most-watched cable news shows of 2021. The other three hail from MSNBC.
The Rachel Maddow Show was the top non-Fox News show for 2021, averaging 2.59 million at 9 p.m. (No. 4 overall).
Anderson Cooper 360 was CNN’s most-watched show in 2021, having averaged 1.255 million at 8 p.m. (No. 25 overall).
Here’s a snapshot of the top 10 regularly-scheduled cable news shows for 2021.
2021 TOTAL VIEWERS (Nielsen Live+SD data)
Time Slot | Network | Program / Total Viewers / # of Telecasts
- 8 p.m. |Fox News | Tucker Carlson Tonight: 3,214,000 / 230
- 5 p.m. | Fox News | The Five: 2,936,000 / 253
- 9 p.m. | Fox News | Hannity: 2,870,000 / 224
- 9 p.m. | MSNBC | The Rachel Maddow Show: 2,593,000 / 245
- 10 p.m. | Fox News | The Ingraham Angle: 2,266,000 / 227
- 6 p.m. | Fox News | Special Report with Bret Baier: 2,130,000 / 252
- 7 p.m. | Fox News | Fox News Primetime: 1,868,000 / 237
- 10 p.m. | MSNBC | The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell: 1,777,000 / 240
- 11 p.m. | Fox News | Gutfeld!: 1,701,000 / 175
- 4 p.m. | MSNBC | Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace
Below, the full regularly-scheduled weekday cable news ranker for 2021, sorted by average total viewers.
| P2+ | ||||
| RANK | NETWORK | PROGRAM NAME | AA (000) | #Tlc |
| 1 | FOXN | TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT | 3214 | 230 |
| 2 | FOXN | FIVE, THE | 2936 | 253 |
| 3 | FOXN | HANNITY | 2870 | 224 |
| 4 | MSNB | RACHEL MADDOW SHOW | 2593 | 245 |
| 5 | FOXN | INGRAHAM ANGLE, THE | 2266 | 227 |
| 6 | FOXN | SPECIAL RPT W/BRET BAIER | 2130 | 252 |
| 7 | FOXN | FOX NEWS PRIMETIME | 1868 | 237 |
| 8 | MSNB | LAST WORD W/ L. ODONNELL | 1777 | 240 |
| 9 | FOXN | GUTFELD! | 1701 | 175 |
| 10 | MSNB | DEADLINE:WHITE HOUSE | 1584 | 267 |
| 11 | FOXN | OUTNUMBERED | 1580 | 244 |
| 12 | MSNB | ALL IN W/ CHRIS HAYES | 1571 | 243 |
| 13 | FOXN | AMERICAS NEWSROOM | 1513 | 511 |
| 14 | FOXN | FAULKNER FOCUS, THE | 1476 | 231 |
| 15 | MSNB | BEAT W/ARI MELBER | 1465 | 244 |
| 16 | MSNB | MSNBC LIVE W/ H.JACKSON | 1443 | 54 |
| 17 | MSNB | MSNBC LIVE W/ S.RUHLE | 1436 | 57 |
| 18 | MSNB | REIDOUT | 1434 | 246 |
| 19 | FOXN | STORY, THE | 1420 | 244 |
| 20 | FOXN | YOUR WORLD W/NEIL CAVUTO | 1417 | 244 |
| 21 | FOXN | AMERICA REPORTS | 1416 | 468 |
| 22 | MSNB | 11TH HOUR/11TH HOUR W/WILLIAMS | 1392 | 246 |
| 23 | MSNB | MSNBC LIVE W/A.MOHYELDIN | 1391 | 60 |
| 24 | MSNB | MSNBC LIVE W/K.TUR | 1359 | 56 |
| 25 | CNN | ANDERSON COOPER 360 | 1255 | 269 |
| 26 | CNN | CNN TONIGHT/CUOMO/COOPER | 1229 | 236 |
| 27 | MSNB | MSNBC LIVE W/ C.MELVIN | 1221 | 58 |
| 28 | FOXN | FOX AND FRIENDS | 1215 | 753 |
| 29 | CNN | ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT | 1121 | 249 |
| 30 | CNN | SITUATION ROOM | 1095 | 374 |
| 31 | FOXN | FOX NEWS AT NIGHT | 1044 | 252 |
| 32 | MSNB | MORNING JOE | 1018 | 252 |
| 33 | CNN | LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER | 995 | 371 |
| 34 | CNN | CNN NEWSROOM | 940 | 1313 |
| 35 | MSNB | MTP DAILY | 875 | 242 |
| 36 | CNN | DON LEMON TONIGHT/CNN TONIGHT | 873 | 447 |
| 37 | MSNB | ANDREA MITCHELL REPORTS | 869 | 235 |
| 38 | MSNB | STEPHANIE RUHLE REPORTS | 824 | 187 |
| 39 | CNN | INSIDE POLITICS | 823 | 208 |
| 40 | MSNB | AYMAN MOHYELDIN REPORTS | 805 | 118 |
| 41 | MSNB | HALLIE JACKSON REPORTS | 763 | 189 |
| 42 | MSNB | KATY TUR REPORTS | 754 | 195 |
| 43 | CNN | AT THIS HOUR | 684 | 182 |
| 44 | MSNB | CRAIG MELVIN REPORTS | 658 | 179 |
| 45 | MSNB | JOSE DIAZ-BALART REPORTS | 614 | 58 |
| 46 | CNN | NEW DAY | 524 | 753 |
| 47 | FOXN | FOX & FRIENDS FIRST | 470 | 500 |
| 48 | MSNB | WAY TOO EARLY W/K. HUNT | 431 | 142 |
| 49 | HLN | DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL | 419 | 136 |
| 50 | NMX | GREG KELLY REPORTS | 405 | 255 |
| 51 | CNN | CNN NEWSROOM LIVE | 319 | 343 |
| 52 | NMX | SPICER & CO | 305 | 260 |
| 53 | CNN | EARLY START | 302 | 247 |
| 54 | MSNB | WAY TOO EARLY | 296 | 112 |
| 55 | CNBC | FAST MONEY HALFTIME RPRT | 293 | 249 |
| 55 | CNBC | SQUAWK ALLEY | 293 | 70 |
| 55 | CNBC | SQUAWK ON THE STREET | 293 | 251 |
| 58 | NMX | CHRIS SALCEDO SHOW, THE | 263 | 258 |
| 59 | NMX | STINCHFIELD | 260 | 255 |
| 60 | CNBC | EXCHANGE, THE | 259 | 249 |
| 61 | NMX | ERIC BOLLING THE BALANCE | 244 | 107 |
| 62 | CNBC | CLOSING BELL | 243 | 250 |
| 63 | CNBC | POWER LUNCH | 241 | 250 |
| 64 | HLN | KILLING OF A.ARBERY TRIAL | 240 | 90 |
| 65 | CNBC | TECHCHECK | 237 | 180 |
| 66 | FBN | VARNEY & COMPANY | 236 | 747 |
| 67 | CNBC | NEWS W SHEPARD SMITH, THE | 231 | 253 |
| 68 | CNBC | MAD MONEY | 213 | 206 |
| 69 | FBN | KUDLOW | 206 | 213 |
| 70 | CNBC | FAST MONEY | 201 | 279 |
| 71 | NMX | AMERICAN AGENDA | 199 | 260 |
| 72 | NMX | NATIONAL REPORT | 196 | 260 |
| 73 | NMX | JOHN BACHMAN NOW | 195 | 259 |
| 74 | HLN | MORNING EXPRESS W/ MEADE | 176 | 1227 |
| 75 | NMX | ROB SCHMITT TONIGHT | 171 | 252 |
| 76 | CNBC | OPTIONS ACTION | 157 | 48 |
| 77 | NMX | CORTES & PELLEGRINO | 150 | 161 |
| 78 | FBN | EVENING EDIT, THE | 149 | 249 |
| 79 | FBN | CAVUTO COAST TO COAST | 145 | 498 |
| 80 | FBN | CLAMAN COUNTDOWN, THE | 139 | 249 |
| 80 | FBN | MAKING MONEY W/C.PAYNE | 139 | 246 |
| 80 | CNBC | SQUAWK BOX | 139 | 252 |
| 83 | FBN | FOX BUSINESS TONIGHT | 135 | 222 |
| 84 | NMX | WAKE UP AMERICA | 118 | 260 |
| 85 | FBN | MORNINGS WITH M.BARTIROMO | 106 | 747 |
| 86 | FBN | KENNEDY | 87 | 199 |
| 87 | FBN | AMERICAN BUILT | 83 | 28 |
| 88 | FBN | AMERICAN DREAM HOME | 56 | 28 |
| 88 | FBN | M. BARTIROMOS WALL STREET | 56 | 48 |
| 90 | CNBC | WORLDWIDE EXCHANGE | 55 | 250 |
| 91 | FBN | MANSION GLOBAL | 53 | 28 |
| 92 | FBN | WSJ AT LRGE W/GERRY BAKER | 43 | 48 |
| 93 | FBN | PURSUIT W/JOHN RICH, THE | 42 | 28 |
| 94 | CNBC | STREET SIGNS | 36 | 56 |
| 95 | FBN | BARRONS ROUNDTABLE | 29 | 48 |
Tucker Carlson Tonight is one of the most polarizing and influential shows on television. In addition to average total viewers, it also happens to be the most popular show on cable news among adults 25-54, averaging 535,000 viewers from the key measurement in 2021.
Hannity behind his FNC colleague with an average of 460,000 adults 25-54 in the 9 p.m. hour. The Five finished in third, averaging 423,000 adults 25-54 at 5 p.m, followed by The Ingraham Angle at 10 p.m. (389,000).
MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show came in at No. 5 in 2021 among adults 25-54 (371,000), making it the highest-rated non-Fox News show in the key demo.
CNN programming finished far outside of the top 10 in average total viewers, but had two shows inside the top 10 when it came to adults 25-54: Anderson Cooper 360 (No. 8, 315,000), and the network’s 9 p.m. hour of Cuomo Primetime/CNN Tonight/AC 360 (No. 10 , 293,000).
2021 ADULTS 25-54 (Nielsen Live+SD data)
Time Slot | Program / Adults 25-54 / # of Telecasts
- 8 p.m. | Fox News | Tucker Carlson Tonight: 535,000 / 230
- 9 p.m. | Fox News | Hannity: 460,000 / 224
- 5 p.m. | Fox News | The Five: 423,000 / 253
- 10 p.m. | Fox News | The Ingraham Angle: 389,000 / 227
- 9 p.m. | MSNBC | The Rachel Maddow Show: 371,000 / 245
- 6 p.m. | Fox News | Special Report with Bret Baier: 332,000 / 252
- 11 p.m. | Fox News | Gutfeld!: 325,000 / 175
- 8 p.m. | CNN | Anderson Cooper 360: 315,000 / 269
- 7 p.m. | Fox News | Fox News Primetime: 307,000 / 237
- 9 p.m. | CNN | Cuomo Primetime/CNN Tonight/AC360: 293,000 / 236
Below, the full regularly-scheduled weekday cable news ranker for 2021, sorted by adults 25-54.
| RANK | NETWORK | PROGRAM NAME | A25-54 (000) | #Tlc |
| 1 | FOXN | TUCKER CARLSON TONIGHT | 535 | 230 |
| 2 | FOXN | HANNITY | 460 | 224 |
| 3 | FOXN | FIVE, THE | 423 | 253 |
| 4 | FOXN | INGRAHAM ANGLE, THE | 389 | 227 |
| 5 | MSNB | RACHEL MADDOW SHOW | 371 | 245 |
| 6 | FOXN | SPECIAL RPT W/BRET BAIER | 332 | 252 |
| 7 | FOXN | GUTFELD! | 325 | 175 |
| 8 | CNN | ANDERSON COOPER 360 | 315 | 269 |
| 9 | FOXN | FOX NEWS PRIMETIME | 307 | 237 |
| 10 | CNN | CNN TONIGHT/CUOMO/COOPER | 293 | 236 |
| 11 | CNN | ERIN BURNETT OUTFRONT | 284 | 249 |
| 12 | CNN | SITUATION ROOM | 277 | 374 |
| 13 | FOXN | OUTNUMBERED | 250 | 244 |
| 14 | FOXN | AMERICAS NEWSROOM | 248 | 511 |
| 15 | CNN | DON LEMON TONIGHT/CNN TONIGHT | 244 | 447 |
| 16 | FOXN | STORY, THE | 240 | 244 |
| 17 | FOXN | FAULKNER FOCUS, THE | 237 | 231 |
| 17 | MSNB | LAST WORD W/ L. ODONNELL | 237 | 240 |
| 19 | FOXN | AMERICA REPORTS | 236 | 468 |
| 19 | FOXN | YOUR WORLD W/NEIL CAVUTO | 236 | 244 |
| 21 | CNN | LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER | 226 | 371 |
| 22 | MSNB | MSNBC LIVE W/ H.JACKSON | 225 | 54 |
| 23 | FOXN | FOX NEWS AT NIGHT | 221 | 252 |
| 24 | MSNB | ALL IN W/ CHRIS HAYES | 218 | 243 |
| 25 | CNN | CNN NEWSROOM | 217 | 1313 |
| 26 | FOXN | FOX AND FRIENDS | 211 | 753 |
| 27 | MSNB | MSNBC LIVE W/ S.RUHLE | 207 | 57 |
| 27 | MSNB | REIDOUT | 207 | 246 |
| 29 | MSNB | MSNBC LIVE W/A.MOHYELDIN | 206 | 60 |
| 30 | MSNB | 11TH HOUR/11TH HOUR W/WILLIAMS | 205 | 246 |
| 31 | MSNB | MSNBC LIVE W/K.TUR | 202 | 56 |
| 32 | CNN | INSIDE POLITICS | 191 | 208 |
| 33 | MSNB | DEADLINE:WHITE HOUSE | 189 | 267 |
| 34 | MSNB | BEAT W/ARI MELBER | 187 | 244 |
| 35 | MSNB | MSNBC LIVE W/ C.MELVIN | 186 | 58 |
| 36 | CNN | AT THIS HOUR | 151 | 182 |
| 37 | MSNB | MORNING JOE | 137 | 252 |
| 38 | HLN | DEREK CHAUVIN TRIAL | 128 | 136 |
| 39 | CNN | NEW DAY | 120 | 753 |
| 40 | MSNB | ANDREA MITCHELL REPORTS | 116 | 235 |
| 40 | MSNB | MTP DAILY | 116 | 242 |
| 42 | MSNB | AYMAN MOHYELDIN REPORTS | 106 | 118 |
| 43 | MSNB | KATY TUR REPORTS | 96 | 195 |
| 43 | MSNB | STEPHANIE RUHLE REPORTS | 96 | 187 |
| 45 | FOXN | FOX & FRIENDS FIRST | 95 | 500 |
| 46 | MSNB | HALLIE JACKSON REPORTS | 91 | 189 |
| 47 | MSNB | CRAIG MELVIN REPORTS | 86 | 179 |
| 48 | CNN | CNN NEWSROOM LIVE | 75 | 343 |
| 49 | CNN | EARLY START | 72 | 247 |
| 50 | MSNB | JOSE DIAZ-BALART REPORTS | 65 | 58 |
| 50 | CNBC | SQUAWK ALLEY | 65 | 70 |
| 50 | MSNB | WAY TOO EARLY W/K. HUNT | 65 | 142 |
| 53 | CNBC | SQUAWK ON THE STREET | 63 | 251 |
| 54 | NMX | GREG KELLY REPORTS | 60 | 255 |
| 54 | HLN | KILLING OF A.ARBERY TRIAL | 60 | 90 |
| 56 | CNBC | FAST MONEY HALFTIME RPRT | 58 | 249 |
| 57 | HLN | MORNING EXPRESS W/ MEADE | 53 | 1227 |
| 58 | CNBC | EXCHANGE, THE | 50 | 249 |
| 58 | CNBC | TECHCHECK | 50 | 180 |
| 60 | NMX | STINCHFIELD | 49 | 255 |
| 61 | CNBC | CLOSING BELL | 46 | 250 |
| 61 | CNBC | POWER LUNCH | 46 | 250 |
| 63 | NMX | SPICER & CO | 45 | 260 |
| 64 | CNBC | MAD MONEY | 42 | 206 |
| 65 | CNBC | NEWS W SHEPARD SMITH, THE | 41 | 253 |
| 66 | NMX | CHRIS SALCEDO SHOW, THE | 39 | 258 |
| 66 | CNBC | FAST MONEY | 39 | 279 |
| 68 | MSNB | WAY TOO EARLY | 38 | 112 |
| 69 | NMX | ROB SCHMITT TONIGHT | 36 | 252 |
| 70 | NMX | AMERICAN AGENDA | 35 | 260 |
| 71 | NMX | JOHN BACHMAN NOW | 33 | 259 |
| 71 | CNBC | SQUAWK BOX | 33 | 252 |
| 73 | NMX | NATIONAL REPORT | 32 | 260 |
| 73 | CNBC | OPTIONS ACTION | 32 | 48 |
| 75 | NMX | ERIC BOLLING THE BALANCE | 30 | 107 |
| 76 | NMX | CORTES & PELLEGRINO | 28 | 161 |
| 77 | FBN | VARNEY & COMPANY | 25 | 747 |
| 78 | FBN | KUDLOW | 17 | 213 |
| 78 | NMX | WAKE UP AMERICA | 17 | 260 |
| 80 | FBN | CAVUTO COAST TO COAST | 16 | 498 |
| 80 | FBN | CLAMAN COUNTDOWN, THE | 16 | 249 |
| 80 | FBN | MAKING MONEY W/C.PAYNE | 16 | 246 |
| 83 | CNBC | WORLDWIDE EXCHANGE | 13 | 250 |
| 84 | FBN | EVENING EDIT, THE | 12 | 249 |
| 84 | FBN | MANSION GLOBAL | 12 | 28 |
| 84 | FBN | MORNINGS WITH M.BARTIROMO | 12 | 747 |
| 87 | FBN | FOX BUSINESS TONIGHT | 11 | 222 |
| 87 | FBN | KENNEDY | 11 | 199 |
| 89 | FBN | AMERICAN BUILT | 10 | 28 |
| 90 | FBN | AMERICAN DREAM HOME | 9 | 28 |
| 90 | CNBC | STREET SIGNS | 9 | 56 |
| 92 | FBN | PURSUIT W/JOHN RICH, THE | 7 | 28 |
| 93 | FBN | M. BARTIROMOS WALL STREET | 6 | 48 |
| 94 | FBN | BARRONS ROUNDTABLE | 5 | 48 |
| 95 | FBN | WSJ AT LRGE W/GERRY BAKER | 4 | 48 |
Source: 2021 (Nielsen LIVE+SD) Weekday Program Analysis (excluding breaking news & specials, includes all original programming)
2021 FINAL (12/28/20-12/24/21). Program Name Averages, Live+SD, M-F 6a-2a, Su-Th 4-6a,. Only original scheduled programs with 20+ telecasts included.