This is TVNewser’s basic cable network ranker and cable news report for the week of August 5, 2024.
Despite the blockbuster numbers posted by NBC News’ coverage of the Paris Olympics, cable news viewership grew during the first week of August. Chalk that up to the excitement surrounding Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her newly-named running mate, Tim Walz. All three cable news nets recorded week-to-week gains during primetime and total day even with the competition of the Summer Games.
NETWORKS:
Nielsen live plus same-day data for the week of August 5 saw FNC average 2.394 million total viewers and 301,000 viewers in the advertiser-coveted A25-54 demo during primetime. The network saw respective gains of +6% and +10% in those measured categories compared to the week prior. In total day, Fox News averaged 1.467 million total viewers and 965,000 demo viewers for week-to-week gains of +2% in both categories.
Among all basic cable networks, Fox News remained at No. 1 in total primetime viewers and repeated at No. 2 in the demo. In total day, it retained first place in total viewers and second place in the demo. USA Network continued to stand at the top of the demo podium in both primetime and total day as a result of the Paris Olympics.
MSNBC’s primetime lineup averaged 1,391,000 total viewers and 159,000 viewers in the A25-54 demo. The network saw respective week-to-week gains of +25% and +49% in both measured categories. In total day, MSNBC averaged 965,000 total viewers and 109,000 demo viewers for gains of +23% and +42%, respectively.
Among all basic cable networks, MSNBC jumped from third to second place in total primetime viewers and from 10th to sixth place in the demo. During total day, it finished at No. 2 in total viewers and moved from sevenths to fourth place in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 696,000 total primetime viewers and 136,000 A25-54 viewers during primetime, for week-to-week gains of +9% and +13%, respectively. In total day, the network saw 524,000 total viewers and 105,000 viewers in the demo for respective bumps of +9% and +17% in both measured categories.
In primetime, CNN stayed in fourth place with total viewers and fell from seventh to ninth place in the demo. It repeated at fourth in total day viewers and remained at No. 5 in the total day demo.
Looking at these networks’ performance during the same period a year ago (the week of Aug. 7):
- During primetime, Fox News was up by +33% in total viewers and +64% in the A25-54 demo. In total day, the network saw gains of +29% in total viewers and +49% in the demo.
- MSNBC’s primetime total viewers dropped by -4%, but gained +11% in the primetime demo. During total day, the network was up by +9% and +12% in those respective categories.
- In primetime, CNN saw gains of +19% in total viewers and +7% in the demo. During total day, CNN rose by +8% in total viewers and +7% in the demo.
PROGRAMMING:
Fox News occupied 10 of the 15 spots for the week’s most-watched cable news shows, with The Five (3.393 million viewers at 5 p.m. ET) taking the gold. MSNBC occupied the remaining slots, with The Beat with Ari Melber (2.123 million viewers at 6 p.m. ET) landing in seventh place.
Among the most-watched shows in the A25-54 demo, Hannity (368,000 viewers at 9 p.m. ET) finished first as FNC claimed 12 out of the 15 spots. MSNBC’s The Beat (272,000 viewers at 6 p.m. ET) came in at No. 5.
Week of August 5 cable news ratings, Monday-Sunday (Nielsen Live+SD data):
| PRIMETIME | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 2,394,000 | 1,391,000 | 696,000 |
| • A25-54: | 301,000 | 159,000 | 136,000 |
| TOTAL DAY | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 1,467,000 | 965,000 | 524,000 |
| • A25-54: | 191,000 | 109,000 | 105,000 |
