Fox News, CNN and MSNBC gained some of the viewers it had lost during the post-Thanksgiving week. The latter two outlets saw substantial week-to-week and year-over-year growth driven by live coverage of the Georgia senate runoff election on Tuesday, December 6.
Still, with Nielsen live plus same day data for the week of December 5 now in, we can confidently report Fox News Channel was the most-watched basic cable network of the week in primetime, has officially achieved 49 consecutive weeks as the most-watched basic cable network in total day (according to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data), and has now spent a whopping 95 consecutive weeks as the most-watched network on cable news.
FNC averaged 1.42 million viewers and 188,000 adults 25-54 in total day this past week, +7% and +10%, respectively, from what the network averaged in those two categories the previous week (Nov. 28). Fox’s 188,000 A25-54 viewer count places it at No. 2 on basic cable only behind ESPN (328,000) and ahead of Hallmark Channel (173,000). Additionally, Fox News averaged 2.18 million total viewers and 284,000 A25-54 viewers in primetime this past week, which is +11% and +20%, respectively, from the year-ago week. As mentioned, FNC’s 2.18 million viewer average places it at No. 1 among all basic cable networks in primetime, while the 284,000 A25-54 viewer average is No. 2 among all basic cable networks in primetime.
Relative to the same week in 2021, however, Fox News lost traction. The network dropped -8% in total primetime viewers, -23% in the primetime demo, -4% in total day viewers and -21% in the total day demo.
CNN averaged 701,000 total viewers and 168,000 adults 25-54 in primetime this past week, which is +26% and +26%, respectively, versus what the network averaged in those measurements the prior week. CNN is also +20% total viewers and +40% in A25-54 from the year-ago week. In total day, the network averaged 551,000 total viewers and 111,000 A25-54 viewers in total day last week, +11% and +10%, respectively, from the previous week. CNN also +10% in total viewers and +10% in the demo from the year-ago week. On the downside, CNN had its lowest rated weekend primetime in the A25-54 demo since 1991. The network aired mostly reruns of original series and films in the daypart.
For the week of Dec. 5, CNN ranks No. 9 in total primetime viewers and No. 19 in the primetime demo, No. 5 in total day viewers and tied at No. 9 in the total day demo (with Comedy Central, ID and Paramount).
MSNBC had an even better week as far as primetime goes. The network averaged 1.46 million total viewers and 176,000 A25-54 in primetime this past week, +21% and +47%, respectively, from the prior week. In total day, MSNBC averaged 842,000 total viewers and 98,000 A25-54 viewers, +12% and +21%, respectively, from the prior week. MSNBC’s year-over-year ratings trend is even more positive. The network gained +26% in total primetime viewers, +34% in the primetime demo, +23% in total day viewers and +32% in the total day demo vs. the week of Dec. 6, 2021.
MSNBC managed to finish ahead of CNN in the primetime demo, something it hasn’t done in months. It ranks No. 16 in A25-54 viewers during primetime, No. 15 in the total day demo, No. 3 in total primetime viewers and No. 2 in total day viewers for the week of Dec. 5.
Week of Dec. 5 cable news ratings, Monday-Sunday (Nielsen Live+SD data):
| PRIME TIME | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 2,176,000 | 1,456,000 | 701,000 |
| • A25-54: | 284,000 | 176,000 | 168,000 |
| TOTAL DAY | Fox News | MSNBC | CNN |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Total Viewers: | 1,419,000 | 842,000 | 551,000 |
| • A25-54: | 188,000 | 98,000 | 111,000 |
In terms of individual programming, The Five is the most-watched cable news show for the 16th consecutive week. The news talk panel program averaged 3.34 million total viewers during the week of Dec. 5. Tucker Carlson Tonight is second place in total viewers (3.05 million at 8 p.m.), with Jesse Watters Primetime (2.75 million at 7 p.m.), Hannity (2.63 million at 9 p.m.) and Special Report with Bret Baier (2.49 million viewers at 6 p.m.) rounding out the top five.
Tucker Carlson Tonight took the top spot on cable news among adults 25-54, averaging 423,000 viewers from the measurement at 8 p.m. The Five ranks No. 2 (389,000) followed by Hannity (371,000), The Ingraham Angle (315,000) and Jesse Watters Primetime (315,000) rounding out the top five in the key demo.
Fox News had nine of the 10-most-watched cable news shows for the week, with MSNBC’s The Beat with Ari Melber grabbing the No. 10 spot with a 1.6 million total viewer average at 6 p.m.
Additionally, on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET, Fox News aired the premiere episode of the Fox Nation series Yellowstone One-Fifty which averaged more than 1.1 million viewers and 114,000 adults 25-54 — the top cable news show in its timeslot and up +13% over the network’s average in the hour.